Sign up to receive free email alerts when patent applications with chosen keywords are publishedSIGN UP

Abstract:

Systems, methods, and other modalities are described for generating or
otherwise handling images or other data indicating (a) an extraction of
chemically treated tissue frozen in vivo, (b) a treatment of a tissue
sample in a chamber extended into tissue of an organism, and/or (c) cells
to which an optical enhancement material was applied in vivo. Several
contexts in which such indications facilitate histological evaluation are
likewise described.

Claims:

1. A medical or veterinary system comprising:first means for bearing a
laser-scanned image of at least some of a cell to which an optical
enhancement material was applied in vivo; andsecond means for indicating
the cell to which the optical enhancement material was applied in vivo.

2. An apparatus comprising:one or more physical media bearing a
laser-scanned image of at least some of a cell to which an optical
enhancement material was applied in vivo.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:a device having a handling
control surface and a chamber, the chamber configured to receive the cell
to which the optical enhancement material was applied in vivo.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the laser-scanned image
comprises:output from a device positioned with a handling control
surface.

5-8. (canceled)

9. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the laser-scanned image
comprises:image data depicting frozen tissue including the cell.

10. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the one or more physical media
further comprises:a signal from a surgical instrument that was positioned
adjacent the cell.

11. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the one or more physical media
further comprises:an image of the cell from an electron microscope.

12. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the one or more physical media
further comprises:some of the one or more physical media bearing a signal
from a biosensor.

13. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the one or more physical media
further comprises:a result of an in situ hybridization protocol performed
upon the cell.

14. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the one or more physical media
further comprises:a result of positioning at least a component of the
cell in a microfluidic structure.

15. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the one or more physical media
further comprises:some of the one or more physical media bearing a result
of the optical enhancement material including one or more antibodies.

16. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the one or more physical media
further comprises:a result of the optical enhancement material applied in
vivo indicating an absence of or a presence of a first attribute in the
cell.

17. (canceled)

18. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the one or more physical media
further comprises:a karyotype of an organism to which the optical
enhancement material was applied in vivo.

19. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the one or more physical media
further comprises:a data component relating to blood extracted from an
organism to which the optical enhancement material was applied in vivo.

20. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the one or more physical media
further comprises:a data component relating to fluid extracted from the
organism to which the optical enhancement material was applied in vivo.

21. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the one or more physical media
further comprises:an extraction protocol descriptor relating to the cell.

22. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the one or more physical media
further comprises:some of the one or more physical media bearing other
data relating to the cell.

23. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the one or more physical media
further comprises:one or more identifiers of a protocol by which the
optical enhancement material was applied to the cell in vivo.

24. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the laser-scanned image
comprises:the laser-scanned image depicting the cell frozen.

25. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the one or more physical media
further comprises:one or more identifiers of the optical enhancement
material to which the cell was exposed in vivo.

26. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the one or more physical media
further comprises:one or more identifiers of a luminescent component of
the optical enhancement material.

27. (canceled)

28. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the one or more physical media
further comprises:a go/no-go indication suggesting whether or not tissue
containing the cell should be extracted.

29. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the one or more physical media
further comprises:another image of the cell generated after the
laser-scanned image.

30. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the one or more physical media
further comprises:some of the one or more physical media indicating an
extraction of the cell from an organism.

31. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:circuitry for causing the
optical enhancement material to be applied to the cell in vivo in
response to contemporaneous user input.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising:circuitry for causing at
least some of the optical enhancement material to be applied to the cell
in vivo within five seconds after a user's signal.

33. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:circuitry for positioning
a dispenser adjacent the cell in vivo.

34. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:circuitry for processing
device-detectable data obtained from one or more biomarker detection
protocols performed upon the cell.

35. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:circuitry for processing
device-detectable data obtained from one or more protocols performed upon
the cell in vivo.

36. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:circuitry for processing
device-detectable data obtained from one or more laser scanning protocols
performed upon the cell.

37. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:one or more other
physical media bearing an operational setting value usable in laser
scanning equipment for analyzing the cell.

38. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the one or more physical media
comprises:some of the one or more physical media bearing an operational
setting value usable for analyzing the cell.

39. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the one or more physical media
comprises:a conduit configured to bear a result of an irradiation in vivo
of the cell to which the optical enhancement material was applied in
vivo.

40. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the one or more physical media
comprises:one or more conduits coupling imaging equipment with a module
configured to contain the cell to which the optical enhancement material
was applied in vivo.

41. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the one or more physical media
comprises:one or more conduits coupling imaging equipment with an
instrument configured to perform an extraction of the cell to which the
optical enhancement material was applied in vivo.

42-47. (canceled)

48. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:an extraction module
configured to contain the cell to which the optical enhancement material
was applied in vivo.

49. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:one or more lenses
configured to receive optical energy from a region containing the cell;
andcircuitry for transforming a portion of the optical energy into the
laser-scanned image.

50. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:a dispenser of the
optical enhancement material.

51. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the one or more physical media
comprise:a portable module including at least an auditory interface
configured to be operated while the portable module is held or worn.

52-58. (canceled)

59. The apparatus of claim 2 in which a first portion of the one or more
physical media transmits a portion of the laser-scanned image before a
remainder of the one or more physical media transmits a remainder of the
laser-scanned image.

60. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the one or more physical media
include at least one of an integrated circuit, a data-holding element, a
lens or other light-transmissive medium, a signal-bearing conduit
currently bearing at least a portion of the laser-scanned image, or a bus
or other configuration of two or more transmission media in mutual
isolation.

61. (canceled)

62. The apparatus of claim 2 in which a first medium of the one or more
physical media bears a first portion of the laser-scanned image while a
second medium of the one or more physical media bears a second portion of
the laser-scanned image.

63-67. (canceled)

Description:

SUMMARY

[0001]In one aspect, a method includes but is not limited to generating or
otherwise obtaining device-detectable data indicating an extraction of
chemically treated tissue frozen in vivo and transmitting a responsive or
other evaluation of the device-detectable data.

[0002]In one or more various aspects, related systems include but are not
limited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting the herein
referenced method aspects; the circuitry and/or programming can be
virtually any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware
configured to effect the herein referenced method aspects depending upon
the design choices of the system designer.

[0003]In one aspect, a system includes but is not limited to circuitry for
generating or otherwise obtaining device-detectable data indicating an
extraction of chemically treated tissue frozen in vivo and circuitry for
transmitting a responsive or other evaluation of the device-detectable
data. In addition to the foregoing, other system aspects are described in
the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

[0004]In one aspect, a method includes but is not limited to generating or
otherwise obtaining device-detectable data indicating a treatment of a
tissue sample in a chamber extended into tissue of an organism and
transmitting a responsive or other evaluation of the device-detectable
data.

[0005]In one or more various aspects, related systems include but are not
limited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting the herein
referenced method aspects; the circuitry and/or programming can be
virtually any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware
configured to effect the herein referenced method aspects depending upon
the design choices of the system designer.

[0006]In one aspect, a system includes but is not limited to circuitry for
generating or otherwise obtaining device-detectable data indicating a
treatment of a tissue sample in a chamber extended into tissue of an
organism and circuitry for transmitting a responsive or other evaluation
of the device-detectable data. In addition to the foregoing, other system
aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of
the present disclosure.

[0007]In one aspect, a method includes but is not limited to generating or
otherwise obtaining sensor data indicating one or more cells to which an
optical enhancement material was applied in vivo and transmitting a
responsive or other evaluation of the device-detectable data.

[0008]In one or more various aspects, related systems include but are not
limited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting the herein
referenced method aspects; the circuitry and/or programming can be
virtually any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware
configured to effect the herein referenced method aspects depending upon
the design choices of the system designer.

[0009]In one aspect, a system includes but is not limited to circuitry for
generating or otherwise obtaining sensor data indicating one or more
cells to which an optical enhancement material was applied in vivo and
circuitry for transmitting a responsive or other evaluation of the
device-detectable data. In addition to the foregoing, other system
aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of
the present disclosure.

[0010]In addition to the foregoing, various other method and/or system
and/or program product aspects are set forth and described in the
teachings such as text (e.g., claims and/or detailed description) and/or
drawings of the present disclosure.

[0011]The foregoing is a summary and thus may contain simplifications,
generalizations, inclusions, and/or omissions of detail; consequently,
those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative
only and is NOT intended to be in any way limiting. Other aspects,
features, and advantages of the devices and/or processes and/or other
subject matter described herein will become apparent in the teachings set
forth herein.

[0012]In one or more various aspects, related systems include but are not
limited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting herein-referenced
method aspects; the circuitry and/or programming can be virtually any
combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware configured to effect
the herein-referenced method aspects depending upon the design choices of
the system designer. In addition to the foregoing, various other method
and/or system aspects are set forth and described in the teachings such
as text (e.g., claims and/or detailed description) and/or drawings of the
present disclosure.

[0013]The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be
in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects,
embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments,
and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the
following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0014]FIGS. 1-24 depict exemplary environments in which one or more
technologies may be implemented.

[0018]FIGS. 28-32 depict further environments in which one or more
technologies may be implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019]In the following detailed description, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar
symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates
otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed
description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other
embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without
departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here.

[0020]Those having skill in the art will recognize that the state of the
art has progressed to the point where there is little distinction left
between hardware, software, and/or firmware implementations of aspects of
systems; the use of hardware, software, and/or firmware is generally (but
not always, in that in certain contexts the choice between hardware and
software can become significant) a design choice representing cost vs.
efficiency tradeoffs. Those having skill in the art will appreciate that
there are various vehicles by which processes and/or systems and/or other
technologies described herein can be effected (e.g., hardware, software,
and/or firmware), and that the preferred vehicle will vary with the
context in which the processes and/or systems and/or other technologies
are deployed. For example, if an implementer determines that speed and
accuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly hardware
and/or firmware vehicle; alternatively, if flexibility is paramount, the
implementer may opt for a mainly software implementation; or, yet again
alternatively, the implementer may opt for some combination of hardware,
software, and/or firmware. Hence, there are several possible vehicles by
which the processes and/or devices and/or other technologies described
herein may be effected, none of which is inherently superior to the other
in that any vehicle to be utilized is a choice dependent upon the context
in which the vehicle will be deployed and the specific concerns (e.g.,
speed, flexibility, or predictability) of the implementer, any of which
may vary. Those skilled in the art will recognize that optical aspects of
implementations will typically employ optically-oriented hardware,
software, and or firmware.

[0021]In some implementations described herein, logic and similar
implementations may include software or other control structures suitable
to operation. Electronic circuitry, for example, may manifest one or more
paths of electrical current constructed and arranged to implement various
logic functions as described herein. In some implementations, one or more
media are configured to bear a device-detectable implementation if such
media hold or transmit a special-purpose device instruction set operable
to perform as described herein. In some variants, for example, this may
manifest as an update or other modification of existing software or
firmware, or of gate arrays or other programmable hardware, such as by
performing a reception of or a transmission of one or more instructions
in relation to one or more operations described herein. Alternatively or
additionally, in some variants, an implementation may include
special-purpose hardware, software, firmware components, and/or
general-purpose components executing or otherwise invoking
special-purpose components. Specifications or other implementations may
be transmitted by one or more instances of tangible transmission media as
described herein, optionally by packet transmission or otherwise by
passing through distributed media at various times.

[0022]Alternatively or additionally, implementations may include executing
a special-purpose instruction sequence or otherwise invoking circuitry
for enabling, triggering, coordinating, requesting, or otherwise causing
one or more occurrences of any functional operations described above. In
some variants, operational or other logical descriptions herein may be
expressed directly as source code and compiled or otherwise invoked as an
executable instruction sequence. In some contexts, for example, C++ or
other code sequences can be compiled directly or otherwise implemented in
high-level descriptor languages (e.g., a logic-synthesizable language, a
hardware description language, a hardware design simulation, and/or other
such similar mode(s) of expression). Alternatively or additionally, some
or all of the logical expression may be manifested as a Verilog-type
hardware description or other circuitry model before physical
implementation in hardware, especially for basic operations or
timing-critical applications. Those skilled in the art will recognize how
to obtain, configure, and optimize suitable transmission or computational
elements, material supplies, actuators, or other common structures in
light of these teachings.

[0023]In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize that the
various embodiments described herein can be implemented, individually
and/or collectively, by various types of electro-mechanical systems
having a wide range of electrical components such as hardware, software,
firmware, and/or virtually any combination thereof; and a wide range of
components that may impart mechanical force or motion such as rigid
bodies, spring or torsional bodies, hydraulics, electro-magnetically
actuated devices, and/or virtually any combination thereof. Consequently,
as used herein "electro-mechanical system" includes, but is not limited
to, electrical circuitry operably coupled with a transducer (e.g., an
actuator, a motor, a piezoelectric crystal, a Micro Electro Mechanical
System (MEMS), etc.), electrical circuitry having at least one discrete
electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one integrated
circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one application specific
integrated circuit, electrical circuitry forming a general purpose
computing device configured by a computer program (e.g., a general
purpose computer configured by a computer program which at least
partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein, or a
microprocessor configured by a computer program which at least partially
carries out processes and/or devices described herein), electrical
circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., forms of memory (e.g., random
access, flash, read only, etc.)), electrical circuitry forming a
communications device (e.g., a modem, communications switch,
optical-electrical equipment, etc.), and/or any non-electrical analog
thereto, such as optical or other analogs. Those skilled in the art will
also appreciate that examples of electromechanical systems include but
are not limited to a variety of consumer electronics systems, medical
devices, as well as other systems such as motorized transport systems,
factory automation systems, security systems, and/or
communication/computing systems. Those skilled in the art will recognize
that electro-mechanical as used herein is not necessarily limited to a
system that has both electrical and mechanical actuation except as
context may dictate otherwise.

[0024]In a general sense, those skilled in the art will also recognize
that the various aspects described herein which can be implemented,
individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software,
firmware, and/or any combination thereof can be viewed as being composed
of various types of "electrical circuitry." Consequently, as used herein
"electrical circuitry" includes, but is not limited to, electrical
circuitry having at least one discrete electrical circuit, electrical
circuitry having at least one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry
having at least one application specific integrated circuit, electrical
circuitry forming a general purpose computing device configured by a
computer program (e.g., a general purpose computer configured by a
computer program which at least partially carries out processes and/or
devices described herein, or a microprocessor configured by a computer
program which at least partially carries out processes and/or devices
described herein), electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g.,
forms of memory (e.g., random access, flash, read only, etc.)), and/or
electrical circuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a modem,
communications switch, optical-electrical equipment, etc.). Those having
skill in the art will recognize that the subject matter described herein
may be implemented in an analog or digital fashion or some combination
thereof.

[0025]Those skilled in the art will further recognize that at least a
portion of the devices and/or processes described herein can be
integrated into an image processing system. A typical image processing
system may generally include one or more of a system unit housing, a
video display device, memory such as volatile or non-volatile memory,
processors such as microprocessors or digital signal processors,
computational entities such as operating systems, drivers, applications
programs, one or more interaction devices (e.g., a touch pad, a touch
screen, an antenna, etc.), control systems including feedback loops and
control motors (e.g., feedback for sensing lens position and/or velocity;
control motors for moving/distorting lenses to give desired focuses). An
image processing system may be implemented utilizing suitable
commercially available components, such as those typically found in
digital still systems and/or digital motion systems.

[0026]Those skilled in the art will likewise recognize that at least some
of the devices and/or processes described herein can be integrated into a
data processing system. Those having skill in the art will recognize that
a data processing system generally includes one or more of a system unit
housing, a video display device, memory such as volatile or non-volatile
memory, processors such as microprocessors or digital signal processors,
computational entities such as operating systems, drivers, graphical user
interfaces, and applications programs, one or more interaction devices
(e.g., a touch pad, a touch screen, an antenna, etc.), and/or control
systems including feedback loops and control motors (e.g., feedback for
sensing position and/or velocity; control motors for moving and/or
adjusting components and/or quantities). A data processing system may be
implemented utilizing suitable commercially available components, such as
those typically found in data computing/communication and/or network
computing/communication systems.

[0027]With reference now to FIG. 1, shown is a medical or veterinary
system in which one or more technologies may be implemented. As described
below, it includes a storage or transmission medium 100 bearing one or
more instances of input 110; protocols 114, 115, 116; categories 121,
122; images 123, 124, 125; recommendations 143, 144; concentrations 151
or other values 152 representing one or more measurements 153; indicators
161, 162, 163 representing an identifier 171, time 172, or other such
items; or other data 191 or results 192, 193 as described below. Such
recommendations may include identifiers 141, 142 of known pathologies,
differential diagnostic procedures, or other advice a consultant or
expert system may provide. Such protocols may likewise be represented in
human-readable and/or machine readable form in some embodiments, for
example, or by various existing parametric representations. In some
variants, for example, one or more displays or other physical media 100
are configured to bear (a) one or more earlier images 123, 124 depicting
a cluster of cells to which an optical enhancement material was applied
in vivo and (b) one or more later images 125 also depicting the cluster.

[0028]With reference now to FIG. 2, shown is a context (in a surgery or
necropsy, e.g.) in which one or more technologies may be implemented.
System 200 may include one or more instances of a probe 210 with a
handling control surface 214 and a distal portion that can be extended
into tissue 240 as shown. A magnified view of tip 215, for example,
reveals a lens or other optical element 217 at least configured to
receive light 218 from tissue 240. In some variants, optical element 217
includes or otherwise operates in conjunction with a laser, infrared,
ultrasound, or other emitter that transmits light 218 or other energy
into tissue 240. Alternatively or additionally, probe 210 may include one
or more channels 211 or other chambers for receiving fluid and/or tissue
samples (via a partial vacuum or other extraction element, e.g.). Probe
210 may likewise include one or more channels 211 configured to dispense
stains, therapeutic agents, or other materials 213 to tissue 240 in vivo
of subject 280 before or without extraction. In some variants, probe 210
(or a portion of it that includes tip 215) may be separated (from line
208, e.g.) so that a tissue sample or other extraction may be stored or
transported apart from a remainder of system 200.

[0029]With reference now to FIG. 3, shown is a context in which one or
more technologies may be implemented for performing one or more protocols
321, 322, 323. In protocol 321, for example, (1.01) a probe applies a
fixative to an organism's tissue in situ; (1.02) the probe applies
therapeutic and/or marking agents to the tissue in situ; (1.03) the probe
transmits light into the tissue in situ; and (1.04) the probe transmits
the tissue's response. As shown, system 300 may include a probe 370
having one or more applicators 340 or other dispensers configured to
apply one or more fixatives 331, marking agents 332, therapeutic agents
333, or other treatment material to tissue of a human or other subject
380 in situ. Probe 370 may further include or operate in conjunction with
(a) a light 345 or other optical element configured to transmit light
into the tissue of subject 380 in situ and/or (b) a camera 350, conduit
375, or other output module configured to transmit an image, measurement,
or other indication of the tissue's response 355 to the treatment
material(s) and the light. In some contexts, for example, probe 370 may
transmit one or more images 125, 395 (in an electrical or optical signal,
e.g.) via conduit 375, projector 390, a projection surface 392, or other
such physical media 100 as described below. In some protocols 322, for
example, probe 370 may function as a bronchoscope or endoscope in a first
mode (for approaching a growth of concern, for example) and as a surgical
and/or histological instrument in a second mode.

[0030]In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may be
applied for preparing fluorescent or other marking agents as described
herein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., Jim Krause, Color Index:
Over 1,000 Color Combinations CMYK and RGB Formulas, for Print and Web
Media, (2002) F&W Publications, Inc., ISBN: 1581802366; Conn's Biological
Stains: A Handbook of Dyes, Stains and Fluorochromes for Use in Biology
and Medicine, (10th Ed. 2002) Bios Scientific Pub. Ltd., ISBN:
9781859960998; U.S. Pat. No. 7,326,575 ("Methods and compositions for the
preparation and use of fixed-treated cell-lines and tissue in
fluorescence in situ hybridization"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,319,046
("Integrated optoelectronic silicon biosensor for the detection of
biomolecules labeled with chromophore groups or nanoparticles"); U.S.
Pat. No. 6,830,743 ("In Vivo stain compounds and methods of use to
identify dysplastic tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,790,636 ("Rapid fluorescent
labeling of tissue for microdissection using fluorescent specific binding
agents"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,608,213 ("Fluorescence-labeled probe for DNA
and a fluorescence-labeled plasmid"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,599,496 ("Endoscopy
tissue stain"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,372,451 ("Histochemical labeling stain
for myelin in brain tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,333,110 ("Functionalized
nanocrystals as visual tissue-specific imaging agents, and methods for
fluorescence imaging"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,106,804 ("Arsenic-72 labeled
compounds for tissue specific medical imaging"); U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,713
("Dye labeled protein conjugate its preparing method and sensor using the
same"). Some such variants, for example, may include media bearing one or
more identifiers, components, protocols, or other indicators of optical
enhancement materials and/or other useful components. Alternatively or
additionally, such modules may implement or otherwise interact with one
or more materials or other components for staining, for example.

[0031]In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may be
applied for configuring fixatives or other modes of protecting tissue or
other extractions as described herein without undue experimentation. See,
e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,374,907 ("System and method for automatically
processing tissue samples"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,264,471 ("Methods and kits
for bleaching teeth while protecting adjacent gingival tissue"); U.S.
Pat. No. 7,229,418 ("Tissue specimen encapsulation device and method
thereof"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,743,254 ("Tissue expander with protection
against accidental puncture"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,673,006 ("Tissue
positioning apparatus and method for protecting tissue from
radiotherapy"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,640,139 ("Thermal therapy with tissue
protection"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,902 ("Method for creating a virtual
electrode for the ablation of tissue and for selected protection of
tissue during an ablation"); U.S. Pat. No. 5,843,086 ("Thermal bone
cement removal system with tissue protector"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,138,226
("Preservation of RNA and morphology in cells and tissues"); U.S. Pat.
No. 6,875,583 ("Rapid microwave-assisted fixation of fresh tissue"); U.S.
Pat. No. 6,586,713 ("Apparatus for high quality, continuous throughput,
tissue fixation-dehydration-fat removal-impregnation"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,204,375 ("Methods and reagents for preserving RNA in cell and tissue
samples"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,725 ("Cytological fixative and dehydrating
agent for treating histological and cytological tissue").

[0032]With reference now to FIG. 4, shown is a context in which one or
more technologies may be implemented for performing one or more protocols
441, 442, 443.

[0033]In protocol 441, for example, (2.91) samples of abnormal and normal
tissue are extracted from an organ into respective chambers of a surgical
probe; (2.92) the samples are exposed to an aptamer or other such marking
treatments in the respective chambers; (2.93) the samples are exposed to
a freezing agent or other fixative in the chambers; and (2.94) images or
other comparative results are available to remote viewers in real time.

[0034]In a distributed system 400, for example, such viewers or other
participants may include one or more pathologists 471, histologists 472,
immunologists 473, or other such experts who can provide identifiers 142
materials or protocols 442 (for tissue typing, cancer staging, marking,
treatment options, etc.) that are most promising and timely, for example,
in light of new information about a given subject and situation. In some
contexts, for example, a pathologist 471 or histologist 472 may use a
preliminary image or observation of an organism's abnormal tissue to
retrieve pertinent images 124 or other reference information (from
<http://health.nih.gov/>, <http://seer.cancer.gov/>, or other
public or private providers, e.g.) superseding, supplementing, or
obviating comparative information representing an organism's healthy
tissue. Alternatively or additionally, such information may be used by
specialists or other decisionmakers 474 to facilitate procedural
decisions informed by medical or veterinary context in real time.

[0035]Some variants may include software-controlled or other
special-purpose circuitry for sharing images, evaluation results or other
device-detectable data with remote resources in real time. In light of
teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may be applied for
implementing communication conduits or other modules as described herein
without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,367,018
("System and method for organizing and sharing of process plant design
and operations data"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,203,625 ("Multisided sharing of
dynamic data in a wireless test environment"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,177,874
("System and method for generating and processing results data in a
distributed system"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,162,476 ("System and method for
sharing global data within distributed computing systems"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,119,666 ("Method for controlling and evaluating a sensor device shared
by a plurality of applications"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,020,699 ("Test result
analyzer in a distributed processing framework system and methods for
implementing the same"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,175 ("Integrated
collaborative/content-based filter structure employing selectively
shared, content-based profile data to evaluate information entities in a
massive information network").

[0036]With reference now to FIG. 5, shown is a context in which system 500
is configured for accessing at least a treated portion 516 of external or
other tissue 520 of an organism 510. A laparoscopic or other probe 590
includes at least an extraction module 540 (in a distal portion 550 of
probe 590, e.g.) that a pathologist or surgeon can manipulate via one or
more handling control surfaces 574, 584 (of any of several handle
configurations 570, 580 shown herein, for example).

[0037]An embodiment provides one or more media 100 bearing
device-detectable data 191 indicating a treatment of one or more tissue
samples 552 in one or more chambers 551 extended into tissue 520 of an
organism 510. In some variants, some such media may bear a component of
the device-detectable data 191 that was generated while such chemical or
other treatments were applied to the tissue sample(s) 552. In some
contexts, for example, at least one of the treatment modules 530 include
an emitter 531 configured to emit ultrasonic, microwave, laser, or other
energy into one or more chambers 551 of the extraction module(s) 540,
such as for permeabilizing, mixing, curing, severing, or otherwise
treating the tissue samples 552. Alternatively or additionally,
extraction module 540 may (optionally) include one or more sensors 553 or
other detection circuitry beside the chamber(s), such as for controlling
or detecting a result 192 of such treatments.

[0038]An embodiment provides one or more physical media 100, 1000 bearing
one or more images 395 or other device-detectable data indicating an
extraction of (at least some of a chemically) treated portion 516 of
tissue 520 frozen in vivo. This can occur, for example, in a context in
which tissue 520 includes a portion of a mucous membrane of subject 380
treated via applicator 340, imaged, and then extracted by a freezing
capture surface. See FIG. 15. In some variants, for example, a text
component of image 395 can include an identifier or other descriptor of
one or more protocols 114, 115 by which this was performed.

[0039]With reference now to FIG. 6, shown is a context in which one or
more technologies may be implemented for performing one or more protocols
651, 652, 653. In protocol 651, for example, (8.21) a distal end of a
device is extended into a mammal or other subject; (8.22) an aldehyde or
other fixative is injected onto or into the organism's tissue; (8.23) a
metal-containing stain is likewise injected onto or into the tissue;
(8.24) at least a sample of the tissue is imaged in an electron
microscope; and (8.25) results are stored or transmitted. System 600 may
include a syringe or other device 610, for example, configured to permit
end 630 inject a fixative 641, label, and/or other material into or onto
tissue 640 (via conduit 642, e.g.). Device 610 may likewise be configured
to inject stain 644 (a uranium- or lead-containing stain, e.g.) and/or
other materials (seconds or minutes later, e.g.) into or onto an
overlapping region of tissue 640.

[0040]An embodiment provides one or more media 100 bearing a
device-detectable image 123 of tissue 640 (in or from subject 280, e.g.)
to which a stain 644 or other optical enhancement material has been
applied in vivo. In some contexts, for example, a sample of tissue 640
can be received into a chamber 635 of extraction module 660 a few seconds
or minutes before the image is generated. In some variants, a
"device-detectable image" of one or more cells may include one in which a
contiguous grouping of many pixels graphically depict (a) a cell's
relationship to one or more neighboring cells or (b) some other useful
morphological indication of at least one cell. Many tumors can be
characterized effectively by providing a small image of several nuclei in
a group, for example, even if cell boundaries are not readily apparent.

[0041]An embodiment provides one or more physical media 100 bearing a
measurement or other device-detectable data indicating a fixative 641 or
other treatment of a tissue component in one or more chambers 551, 635
that have been extended into tissue 240, 520 of an organism 510. This can
occur, for example, in a context in which treated portion 516 overlaps
tissue 640 and in which at least some such treatment occurs in the
chamber(s). In some variants, for example, the above-described systems
and methods may generate or otherwise operate in conjunction with
device-detectable data generated (a) while or after the chamber was
extended into an organism's tissue and/or (b) while or after an optical
enhancement material or other treatment was applied to a sample of the
organism's tissue. Alternatively or additionally, such embodiments may
include a context in which a microtome is configured to extract the
tissue sample by severing one or more portions of the tissue in the
chamber from a remainder of an extracted structure.

[0042]Alternatively or additionally, such media 100 may bear one or more
indicators 161, 162 at least suggesting a yes/no protocol decision about
various tissues 240, 520, 640 having at least one treated portion 516 to
which a stain 644 or other optical enhancement material was applied in
vivo. This can occur, for example, in a context in which a surgeon
selects and/or designs a protocol for deciding whether to extract
abnormal tissues.

[0043]With reference now to FIG. 7, shown is a system 700 in which one or
more technologies may be implemented for completing one or more protocols
651, 652. In some variants, an extraction module 660 or entirety of
device 610 may be observed via electron microscope 770, which can then
transmit such images or other data via a conduit 785 or other
signal-bearing medium. Alternatively or additionally, such data may be
retained in a storage medium 795 or other data-handling device (of
network 790, e.g.).

[0044]An embodiment provides (a) a conduit 785 or storage medium 795
bearing a device-detectable image 123 of cells to which an optical
enhancement material was applied in vivo and (b) an extraction module 660
configured to contain the cells. This can occur, for example, in a
context in which system 700 includes or otherwise interacts with at least
an extraction module 660 of device 610. Alternatively or additionally,
the storage or transmission media 100 may indicate one or more
therapeutic and/or timing protocols 115, such as an indication of a
chemotherapy or other regimen that may have affected the tissue 640 in
the minutes or days before extraction. In some transmission electron
microscopy (TEM) protocols, moreover, an ultramicrotome may be used for
sectioning a tissue sample (to about 100 nanometers or less, e.g.)
embedded in epoxy resin within chamber 635.

[0045]With reference now to FIG. 8, shown is a context in which one or
more technologies may be implemented for performing one or more protocols
821, 822, 823. In protocol 821, for example, (9.31) extraction modules of
a surgical probe each contain a tissue sample; (9.32) one or more
treatment modules of the surgical probe apply chemical and optical
treatments to the tissue samples during a surgical procedure; (9.33) a
preliminary result of the treatments is available during the surgical
procedure; and (9.34) the samples are retained in the extraction modules,
separable from the probe, for further treatment and evaluation. Device
800 may include a laparascopic or other elongated probe 840, for example,
by which one or more extraction modules 850 can each be moved quickly
into position (adjacent an organism's tissue, e.g.) by a guidewire 855 or
pneumatic conveying system. In some variants, for example, device 800 can
contain several extraction modules each have a length 861 less than a
centimeter and a width 862 of about a millimeter or less. Alternatively
or additionally, each extraction module 850 may include a hollow body 852
and one or more jaws 851 that can open to permit a tissue extraction. In
some variants, each may also have one or more apertures 856 (a) for
engaging a threaded or other guidewire, (b) for receiving treatment
material before or after extraction, (c) for sterilizing or otherwise
preparing a containment chamber for the extraction, (d) for delivering
energy into a sample as a mode of treatment, (e) for depositing a solvent
as a mode of treatment, (f) for drawing a vacuum so that tissue enters
the chamber, (g) to permit a sensor or other detection circuitry to
access a tissue sample, and/or (h) for other purposes as described
herein. Device 800 may likewise include a clip 843 or other such
structure configured to hold several extraction modules 850 before and/or
after extraction.

[0046]In some variants, for example, device 800 may include one or more
instances of microwave emitters 885 or other optical modules 880, various
agents 893 that can be applied or accessed (via a dispenser 891, e.g.) as
described herein, permeabilizing modules 892, or other such treatment
modules 890 operable for use with an extraction module or other chamber
as described herein. This can occur, for example, in a context in which
one or more dispensers or other permeabilizing modules 892 operable for
chemically, thermally, temporarily, mechanically, or otherwise
permeabilizing an organic membrane to facilitate various treatments as
described herein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.
7,412,284 ("Apparatus for electroporation mediated delivery for drugs and
genes"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,393,680 ("Combined electroporation and
microinjection method for the penetration of lipid bilayer membranes");
U.S. Pat. No. 7,306,940 ("Electroporation device and method, delivering a
modulated signal under continuous control of cell
electropermeabilization"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,271,005 ("Modulation of
bacterial membrane permeability"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,186,559 ("Apparatus
and method for electroporation of biological samples"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,846,668 ("Microfabricated cell injector"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,706,088
("Method for controlling membrane permeability by microwave and method
for producing organic separation membrane"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,589,503
("Membrane-permeant peptide complexes for medical imaging, diagnostics,
and pharmaceutical therapy"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,319,901 ("Methods for
prolonging cell membrane permeability"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,015,834 ("In
vivo treatment of mammalian cells with a cell membrane permeant calcium
buffer").

[0047]An embodiment provides (a) a probe 370, 590, 840 having one or more
extraction modules 540, 850; (b) a treatment module 530, 890 configured
to apply material or other treatment to tissue 520, 640 in the extraction
module(s); and (c) one or more sensors or other output modules configured
to transmit one or more measurements 153, image data 871, or other
results 192 of such treatment from the probe via an antenna or other
physical medium.

[0048]An embodiment provides a probe 590, 840 or other device 800
comprising (a) a handling control surface 574, 584 (b) one or more distal
portions 550, narrow enough to extend into a living organism 510, (c) a
first dispenser 891 configured to apply a marking agent 332 or other
treatment material(s) to tissue 240, 520 adjacent the device, and (d) one
or more instances of sensors 553, equipment, or other output modules
configured to transmit an image or other result 192 of the treatment (via
one or more conduits 375, 785, e.g.). This can occur, for example, in a
context in which device 800 combines features of several of the probes
210, 370 590, 840 as described herein configured, for example, to
transmit the result through line 208.

[0049]Alternatively or additionally, such devices 800 may comprise a
dispenser 891 configured to apply a marking agent 332 or other treatment
material(s) to tissue 240, 520 of an organism 510 in vivo, an emitter 531
or other optical element 217 configured to transmit light 218 into the
tissue of the organism in vivo, and one or more instances of sensors 553,
imaging or measurement equipment, or other output modules configured to
transmit a result 192 of at least the light and the treatment material(s)
upon the tissue of the organism in vivo. This can occur, for example, in
a context in which device 800 combines features of several of the probes
210, 370 590, 840 as described herein configured, for example, to
transmit the result to or through medium 100.

[0050]With reference now to FIG. 9, shown is a facility 990 in which one
or more technologies may be implemented for performing one or more
protocols 971, 972, 973. In protocol 971, for example, (4.31) an
extraction module of a probe obtains a tissue sample; (4.32) about the
same time, a fixative and/or imaging agent is transferred into the
extraction module; (4.33) the extraction module is promptly transferred
from the surgical probe into a cryostat or imaging system; and (4.34) the
surgical probe may include other extraction modules for receiving
additional samples in the same procedure. Some instances of probe 910 may
include one or more (a) dispensers 921 configured to administer a
compound or other fixative 901 or (b) dispensers 922 configured to
administer another agent 902 as described herein. In some contexts, for
example, probe 910 may include a port 942 configured to inject a gel or
other liquid-containing agent 903 onto a portion 944 of tissue 985 of a
subject 980. Alternatively or additionally, probe 910 may include a
mixing or other control valve 948 effective for dispensing one or more
just-mixed materials into a port, for example, or one or more chambers
955 of an extraction module 952. In some protocols 972, probe 910 may be
configured to perform such dispensations within a few minutes or seconds
of an extraction. Alternatively or additionally, one or more extraction
modules 951, 952 may be transferred promptly after extraction from probe
910 into an ultrasound or other imaging system 991 or into a cryostat
992.

[0051]An embodiment provides one or more media 100 bearing
device-detectable data 191 depicting, characterizing, or otherwise
indicating an extraction of chemically treated tissue frozen in vivo,
such as by injecting a freezing agent (as agent 902 or agent 903, e.g.)
onto a portion 944 of tissue 985 that has been stained or otherwise
treated with an optical enhancement material.

[0052]Another embodiment provides a probe 590, 910 or other device
comprising one or more handling control surfaces 574, 584; a distal
portion 550 narrow enough to protrude into living tissue 520; a first
dispenser 921 configured to apply a compound or other agent 902 to treat
tissue 520 adjacent the distal portion 550 as described herein; and one
or more sensors 553 or other output modules configured to transmit one or
more results 192, 193 of the agent 902. This can occur, for example, in
an embodiment that combines features of probe 590 and probe 910 in a
device operably coupled with medium 100. In some variants, moreover, such
results 192 can likewise depend upon artificial illumination (from
emitter 531, e.g.), chemical treatments (in chamber 955, e.g.), or other
protocol features as described herein.

[0054]Alternatively or additionally, such materials may include an
artificial fluorescent or other luminescent marking agent, such as may be
administered via ports 942 or other dispensers 891, 922 operable to mark
(some or all of) the tissue sample. In light of teachings herein,
numerous existing techniques may be applied for implementing and
dispensing such materials as described herein without undue
experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,414,117 ("Nucleotide
derivative and DNA microarray"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,378,245 ("Methods for
detecting and localizing DNA mutations by microarray"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,155,050 ("Method of analyzing cell samples, by creating and analyzing a
resultant image"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,153,691 ("Method of identifying and
assessing DNA euchromatin in biological cells for detecting disease,
monitoring wellness, assessing bio-activity, and screening
pharmacological agents"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,129,344 ("Nucleic acid
isolation"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,924,373 ("DNA labeling reagents,
acridinium-9-carboxamide derivatives and process of preparing DNA
labeling compounds"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,830,889 ("Method of detecting DNA
by DNA hybridization method with the use of fluorescent resonance energy
transfer"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,716,394 ("DNA sequencing using multiple
fluorescent labels being distinguishable by their decay times"); U.S.
Pat. No. 6,608,213 ("Fluorescence-labeled probe for DNA and a
fluorescence-labeled plasmid"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,667
("Multichromophore fluorescent probes using DNA intercalation
complexes"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,346,379 ("Thermostable DNA polymerases
incorporating nucleoside triphosphates labeled with fluorescein family
dyes"); U.S. Pat. No. 5,942,410 ("Composition and method for staining
cellular DNA, comprising thiazine derivative metabisulfite and methanol
or ethanol").

[0055]With reference now to FIG. 10, shown is a medical or veterinary
system in which one or more technologies may be implemented. As described
below, it includes one or more media 1000 (configured for storage or
presentation, e.g.) bearing one or more instances of cell attribute
indicators 1050 or other attribute indicators 1080. Such cell attribute
indicators can include one or more instances of images 1011, optionally
relating to DNA 1020 or other such large molecules, satellite DNA 1021 or
other such polyatomic fragments, or to one or more markers 1027, 1028
that may attach at specific locations on some such molecules or fragments
that may be present within a cell. Southern blots, northern blots,
western blots, microarray analysis, in situ hybridization, and many other
existing protocols permit cell characterizations using such markers
observable by autoradiography, spectrophotometry, densitometry,
chromatography, or other such modes of detection as described herein.
Alternatively or additionally, cells or cell features may likewise be
characterized by their sizes 1031 or morphologies 1032. Chromosomal
patterns 1040, for example, may be characterized by one or more
chromosome counts 1041, chromosome sizes 1042, centromere positions 1043,
satellite sizes 1044, satellite positions 1045, or other such observable
features.

[0056]Other attribute indicators 1080 may relate to tissue or other
extractions as described herein. Such indicators may include comparative
or other images 1061, cell group sizes 1071, morphologies 1072, or
biomarkers 1075 observable in sputum, thinly sliced tissue samples, or
various other extractions as described herein.

[0057]With reference now to FIG. 11, shown is a context in which one or
more technologies may be implemented. System 1100 may include one or more
instances of an instrument 1110 operable to transmit respective signals
1135 to one or more evaluation modules 1140, such as via a conduit 1130
or other mode of network connection. A variety of protocols 1121, 1122,
1123 as described herein are provided for permitting one or more
cartridges 1101 containing reagents 1111 to interact with one or more
cartridges 1102 or other extraction modules containing tissue samples
1112, analytes, or other detectable cell or tissue features of interest.

[0058]Such evaluation modules may (optionally) reside remotely from
instrument 1110 and/or operate roughly contemporaneously with protocols
1121, 1122 or even within some protocols 1122 applied by instrument 1110.
Such protocols may invoke one or more type recognition modules 1151,
image recognition modules 1152, or other modules 1153, 1154, 1155, 1156,
1157, 1158, 1159 of pattern recognition logic 1150. Such logic may, as
exemplified below, trigger an application of and characterization by one
or more thresholds 1171 or other criteria 1172 of one or more profiles
1181, 1182, 1183, 1184, 1185 of evaluation data 1180 specified by a
pathologist or other expert, for example, such as those depicted in FIG.
4. Alternatively or additionally, such experts may provide, apply, or
otherwise interact with one or more images 1191, types 1192, values 1193,
results 1194, or other work product as described with reference to FIG.
1. In some contexts, for example, a service provider may keep such image
processing, personal knowledge, or other evaluation tools as trade
secrets, even while conveying recommendations 144 or other results to
facilities at which such instruments reside. Product providers may
likewise supply cartridges 1101 with proprietary formulations of reagents
1111, for example, to foster refinements in reagent formulation and other
tissue characterization protocols as described herein.

[0059]An embodiment provides (a) a dispenser 891 configured to apply a
marking agent 332 or other treatment material(s) to tissue 240, 520 of an
organism 510 in vivo; (b) an agent 903 or other cooling component
configured to freeze at least some of the tissue in vivo; and (c) a
cartridge 1102, laser, or other such extraction element configured to
remove at least a sample 1112 of the tissue 240, 520 from the organism.
This can occur, for example, in an implementation combining features of
several of the probes 210, 370 590, 840, 910 as described herein
configured, for example, to extract the sample into chamber 955.

[0060]With reference now to FIG. 12, shown is a system 1200 in which one
or more technologies may be implemented, such as for one or more body
parts 1220 of subject 1210 to interact with interface logic 1270 via one
or more instruments 1260 (manipulable via one or more handling control
surfaces, e.g.). As shown, body part 1220 contains one or more chips or
other implants 1240 positioned under the organism's skin 1226 in tissue
adjacent organ 1227. Implant 1240 may (optionally) include one or more
sensors 1242 as described below and/or one or more antennas 1243 operable
for receiving and/or transmitting data along wireless data path 1245 as
shown. Interface logic 1270 may include one or more instances of
detectors 1280 and/or transducers 1290 such as ultrasound sensors 1281 or
infrared sensors 1282. Alternatively or additionally, detector 1280 may
include special-purpose software 1274 or other such measurement logic
1275 configured to handle configuration, control, measurement, or other
data 1278, 1279 as described below.

[0061]An embodiment provides an instrument 1260 having at least (a) a
chamber 551, 635, 955, or other cavity in which one or more sample
treatment protocols 443 may be applied to a tissue sample 552, and (b)
interface logic 1290, sensors, or other such output modules configured to
transmit one or more measurements 153, images, or other results 192 of
such treatment. In some variants, for example, the instrument may include
or otherwise interact with a treatment module 530 configured to apply one
or more fixatives 331, types of light 218 or other energy, marking agents
332 or other treatments.

[0062]With reference now to FIG. 13, shown is a context in which one or
more technologies may be implemented for performing one or more protocols
1301, 1302, 1303. In protocol 1301, for example, (6.81) a device is
implanted into tissue adjacent a growth; (6.82) the implant secretes
therapeutic and other treatment materials into the growth and similar
healthy tissue; (6.83) the implant monitors changes in the growth over a
period of weeks; and (6.84) an observer transmits comparison data about
the growth and the healthy tissue. In system 1300, for example, an
implant or other such device 1330 may be positioned adjacent healthy
tissue 1361 and/or a growth 1362. In some protocols 1301, 1302, for
example, device 1330 may be configured to dispense one or more optical
enhancement materials, elutants 1363, or therapeutic material to one or
more tissues in vivo. Alternatively or additionally, device 1330 may
include one or more sensors 1331, 1334 or other detection circuitry for
transmitting signals 1370 about such tissues in vivo.

[0063]With reference now to FIG. 14, shown is a system 1400 in which one
or more technologies may be implemented, optionally for use in
conjunction with any of FIGS. 1-13. As shown, a clinician 1490 or other
observer is able to compare image data 1493 or other result data 1494
depicting several cells (of healthy tissue 1361, e.g.) with another image
of several cells (of growth 1362, e.g.).

[0064]An embodiment provides a display, conduit, memory, or other physical
medium 100, 1000 bearing healthy tissue data 1471, subject tissue data
1472, or other data containing images 1061 at least partly depicting one
or more cells to which a fluorescent antibody or other optical
enhancement material has been applied in vivo. This can occur, for
example, in a context in which one or more conduits directly or
indirectly bear signal 1370 from device 1330 to system 1400. In some
contexts, system 1400 may further include or otherwise interact with one
or more cartridges 1102 or other extraction modules 540, 850 configured
to contain cells to which an optical enhancement or other material was
applied in vivo. Alternatively or additionally, system 1400 may likewise
interact with (a) one or more cartridges 1101 or other dispensers of such
materials and/or (b) sensors or other circuitry for transmitting such
images suitable for display.

[0065]With reference now to FIG. 15, shown is a context in which one or
more technologies may be implemented for performing one or more protocols
1571, 1572, 1573. In protocol 1571, for example, (3.81) a dispenser
applies a marking agent to tissue of a living subject in vivo; (3.82) a
capture surface of a probe adheres to some of the tissue; (3.83) the
capture surface is withdrawn into a chamber of the probe; (3.84) the
chamber retains a small marked tissue extraction; (3.85) the probe
transmits a record of the extraction. In system 1500, for example,
dispenser 1540 may (optionally) be configured to spray, inject, print, or
otherwise apply a fluor or other selection of agents 1542 onto a mucous
membrane or other tissue 1531 in vivo. In some variant protocols 1572 or
configurations of probe 1510, tissue 1531 may be brought into contact
with and then partly drawn in vivo into chamber 1515 (by a partial
vacuum, e.g.) and into contact with an adhesive-coated or other capture
surface 1532. In others, capture surface 1532 may retract into chamber
1515 after protruding into tissue 1531 to obtain the extraction 1555.
This may occur, for example, in a context in which a freezing agent (at
-10° C. or colder, e.g.) flows through interior 1560 of protrusion
1520. In some variants, for example, protrusion 1520 may (optionally) be
made of a pliable material so that it flips inside out (by a partial
vacuum in interior 1560, for example) so that surface 1532 becomes an
upper boundary of chamber 1515 containing extraction 1555. Alternatively
or additionally, probe 1510 may transmit a record 1551 or other
indication of the extraction(s), such as via a conduit 1550 or other
signal path. Some variants may, for example, incorporate or otherwise
operate in conjunction with one or more protrusions 1520, freezing
agents, or other elements configured to freeze a part in vivo (a
superficial portion of a mucous membrane or plant, e.g.) as a fixative or
otherwise to facilitate extraction. In some variants, liquid nitrogen or
other such tissue-freezing agents may be injected along interior 1560,
for example, chilling surface 1532 more than enough to adhere to tissue
1531. Alternatively or additionally, in some variants, one or more
physical media 3290 may bear a spoken or other or other device-detectable
data indicating a time of, an occurrence of, a protocol of, or other
features of an extraction of chemically treated tissue 985, 1531 frozen
in vivo.

[0066]With reference now to FIG. 16, shown is a context in which one or
more technologies may be implemented. System 1600 includes at least one
probe 1610 configured to include or otherwise handle one or more
combinations of modules 1621, 1622, 1623, 1624, 1625, 1626 of evaluation
logic 1620; handling control surfaces 1630; optical modules 1650;
measurements 1661, images 1662, results 1663, or other components of
signal 1660; thermal elements 1672; ports 1674; or records 1690. In some
variants, optical module 1650 may include one or more instances of
conduits 1641, emitters 1642, sensors 1644 or other imagers 1645, lenses
1647, or optical or other signal splitters 1648. Record 1690 may include
one or more instances of site indicators 1681, data indicators 1682,
facility indicators 1683, protocol identifiers 1684, video data 1686 or
other results 1687, subject identifiers 1688, personnel identifiers 1689,
authentications, authorizations, or other such data components.

[0067]Some variants include an optical or other component configured to
receive energy from a region containing a cell or other structure. Such
matter or energy "from a region" may include an emission originating from
the region and/or passing through the region, such as may be detected in
a transmission electron microscope (TEM) or other such instruments.

[0068]An embodiment provides one or more channels 212 or other dispensers
891, 921, 922, 1540 configured to apply therapeutic and/or marking agents
1542 or other treatment materials to tissue 1531 of an organism in vivo;
a cooling component (an agent 903 or capture surface 1532, e.g.)
configured to freeze at least some of the tissue 1531 in vivo; and a
protrusion 1520 or other extraction element configured to remove a thin
extraction 1555 of the tissue 1531 from the organism. In some protocols
1571, 1573, such extractions are retained in one or more chambers 551,
955, 1515 of a probe 590, 910, 1510. Alternatively or additionally, such
probes 590, 910, 1510 may be configured to transmit one or more records
1551, 1690 indicative of extraction (by conduits 1550, linkage modules
1600, or other media 100, 1000, e.g.) to an evaluation module 1140 or
other resource as described herein. This can occur in a context in which
system 1500 incorporates one or more features of probe 1610 as shown, for
example.

[0069]Some variants may include a medium 100, 1000 bearing an indication
of functional or other attributes of lipids, proteins, or other
macromolecules in a sample or region. In light of teachings herein,
numerous existing techniques may be applied for relating such output from
one or more modules 1621 of interface or evaluation logic 1620 to a cell,
organ, pathology, source, protocol, extraction, or other aspect of tissue
as described herein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat.
No. 7,411,672 ("Method and apparatus for chemical imaging in a
microfluidic circuit"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,258,775 ("Method and device for
the qualitative and/or quantitative analysis of a protein and/or peptide
pattern of a liquid sample that is derived from the human or animal
body"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,241,578 ("Immunoassay method/equipment,
biological component measurable toilet, anti-albumin monoclonal antibody,
cell strain producing the same, and albumin detection kit"); U.S. Pat.
No. 7,063,946 ("Methods, reagents, kits and apparatus for protein
function analysis"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,005,423 ("Characterization of gene
function using double stranded RNA inhibition"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,868,285
("Method and device for detecting substances in body fluids by Raman
spectroscopy"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,852,544 ("Rapid quantitative analysis of
proteins or protein function in complex mixtures"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,696,271 ("Frozen tissue microarray technology for analysis of RNA, DNA,
and proteins"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,410,243 ("Chromosome-wide analysis of
protein-DNA interactions"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,389,306 ("Method for
determining lipid and protein content of tissue"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,127,133 ("Automated analysis equipment and assay method for detecting
cell surface protein function using same"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,768
("Analysis of conformational changes in band 3 protein as a method for
diagnosing Alzheimer's disease").

[0071]Some variants may include sensors, chambers, special-purpose
circuitry, or other such features configured to permit handling and
observation of tissue samples 552, 1112 or other forms of matter. In
light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may be applied
for implementing one or more modules 1623 of evaluation logic 1620 for
such functions as described herein without undue experimentation. See,
e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,411,672 ("Method and apparatus for chemical imaging
in a microfluidic circuit"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,308,295 ("Compilation of
image information and mammography apparatus for performing biopsy"); U.S.
Pat. No. 7,227,630 ("Imaging of surgical biopsies"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,149,566 ("Soft tissue orientation and imaging guide systems and
methods"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,839,586 ("Use of multiphoton excitation
through optical fibers for fluorescence spectroscopy in conjunction with
optical biopsy needles and endoscopes"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,991
("Video-assistance for ultrasound guided needle biopsy"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,500,114 ("Method of extracting biopsy cells from the breast"); U.S.
Pat. No. 6,421,454 ("Optical correlator assisted detection of
calcifications for breast biopsy"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,236,875 ("Surgical
navigation systems including reference and localization frames"); U.S.
Pat. No. 6,174,291 ("Optical biopsy system and methods for tissue
diagnosis").

[0072]Alternatively or additionally, some such media may include or
otherwise interact with one or more modules 1625 for configuring or
otherwise implementing optical and/or imaging protocols as described
herein. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,368,694 ("Device for measuring light
absorption characteristics of a biological tissue sample"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,186,556 ("Modulating transcription of genes in vascular cells"); U.S.
Pat. No. 6,816,564 ("Techniques for deriving tissue structure from
multiple projection dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,671,526 ("Probe and apparatus for determining concentration of
light-absorbing materials in living tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,366,635
("Method and Apparatus for Three-Dimensional Image-Rendering of a Spatial
and Tissue-Based Configuration Through Separating High Contrast and
Injected Contrast Agents in Multi-Angular X-Ray Absorption Measurement");
U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,253 ("Method and device for measuring the absorption
of radiation in a portion of tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,198,949
("Solid-state non-invasive infrared absorption spectrometer for the
generation and capture of thermal gradient spectra from living tissue");
U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,947 ("Method and apparatus for harmonic tissue
imaging and contrast imaging using coded transmission"); U.S. Pat. No.
5,719,399 ("Imaging and characterization of tissue based upon the
preservation of polarized light transmitted therethrough"); U.S. Pat. No.
5,666,952 ("Tissue transmitted light sensor"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,230,242
("Methods for SEM inspection of fluid containing samples"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,129,473 ("Optical image pickup apparatus for imaging living body
tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,006,861 ("Method and apparatus for detecting
electromagnetic reflection from biological tissue"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,912,412 ("System and methods of fluorescence, reflectance and light
scattering spectroscopy for measuring tissue characteristics"); U.S. Pat.
No. 6,720,547 ("System and method for enhancing confocal reflectance
images of tissue specimens"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,697,652 ("Fluorescence,
reflectance and light scattering spectroscopy for measuring tissue");
U.S. Pat. No. 6,675,029 ("Apparatus and method for quantification of
tissue hydration using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,272,374 ("Method and apparatus for detecting electromagnetic reflection
from biological tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,117 ("Ultrasonic imaging
method and image for doppler tissue parameters").

[0073]Some variants may likewise include software-controlled or other
special-purpose circuitry for categorically or otherwise indicating a
shape of a cell group, a portion of an image, or some other item of
interest on the order of a micron or longer. In light of teachings
herein, numerous existing techniques may be applied for relating
morphological categories or other such output from one or more modules
1624 of evaluation logic 1620 to such attributes as described herein
without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,416,550"); U.S.
Pat. No. Method and apparatus for the control and monitoring of shape
change in tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,343,190"); U.S. Pat. No. System and
method for assessing fetal abnormality based on landmarks"); U.S. Pat.
No. 7,316,904"); U.S. Pat. No. Automated pap screening using optical
detection of HPV with or without multispectral imaging"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,252,638"); U.S. Pat. No. Method and system for simultaneously
displaying relationships of measurements of features associated with a
medical image"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,230,242"); U.S. Pat. No. Methods for SEM
inspection of fluid containing samples"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,212,660"); U.S.
Pat. No. System and method for finding regions of interest for
microscopic digital montage imaging"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,102,740"); U.S.
Pat. No. Method and system for determining surface feature
characteristics using slit detectors"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,975,899"); U.S.
Pat. No. Multi-modal optical tissue diagnostic system"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,288,539"); U.S. Pat. No. System for measuring an embryo, reproductive
organs, and tissue in an animal"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,811"); U.S. Pat.
No. Method and apparatus for optimizing biological and cytological
specimen screening and diagnosis"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,084,407"); U.S. Pat.
No. System for measuring tissue size and marbling in an animal").

[0074]Alternatively or additionally, such media may bear one or more
size-descriptive quantities characterizing an organelle of, a group of, a
sample of, an image of, or some other aspect of one or more cells. In
light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may be applied
for relating such output from one or more modules 1626 of evaluation
logic 1620 to such attributes as described herein without undue
experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,343,190 ("System and method
for assessing fetal abnormality based on landmarks"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,252,638 ("Method and system for simultaneously displaying relationships
of measurements of features associated with a medical image"); U.S. Pat.
No. 6,833,242 ("Methods for detecting and sorting polynucleotides based
on size"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,794,987 ("Object detection system and method
of estimating object size"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,288,539 ("System for
measuring an embryo, reproductive organs, and tissue in an animal"); U.S.
Pat. No. 6,236,458 ("Particle size distribution measuring apparatus,
including an array detector and method of manufacturing the array
detector"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,137,407 ("Humanoid detector and method that
senses infrared radiation and subject size"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,084,407
("System for measuring tissue size and marbling in an animal"); U.S. Pat.
No. 5,917,934 ("Automated visual inspection apparatus for detecting
defects and for measuring defect size").

[0075]With reference now to FIG. 17, shown is a context in which one or
more technologies may be implemented for performing one or more protocols
1731, 1732, 1733. In protocol 1731, for example, (5.21) tissue in vivo is
drawn into a chamber extending into a patient's body; (5.22) a chemical
agent is applied at least to some tissue in the chamber; (5.23) a partial
vacuum is maintained in the chamber to avoid releasing some of the
chemical agent into the patient; and (5.24) the result of such treatment
can be used in deciding whether to remove the tissue. In system 1700, for
example, a surgeon urges a distal portion 1740 of a laparoscopic or other
device 1710 so that a flexible cup can extend into patient 1780 and into
tissue 1755 as shown. A vacuum is drawn via one or more conduits 1741 so
that a portion 1757 of tissue 1755 in vivo enters chamber 1748, bringing
a surface of the tissue closer (to one or more sensors 1746 adjacent the
chamber, e.g.). Some variants feature permeabilizing or other chemical
agents in contact with the tissue portion 1757 in the chamber 1748
(through one or more of the conduits, for example, or otherwise
positioned within the chamber). Alternatively or additionally, a
succession of such agents may be brought into contact with the tissue
portion, permitting a surgeon to image or otherwise observe the tissue in
various sequential and/or conditional ways.

[0076]An embodiment provides one or more conduits 1742 or other physical
media bearing one or more device-detectable measurements 1661, images
1662, intensity levels, or other forms of data indicating one or more
chemical, therapeutic, and/or other treatments of an attached portion
1757, sample, or other component of tissue 1755 in a chamber 1748
extended into tissue 1755 of a patient 1780 or other subject. In some
contexts, for example, at least one such medium bears a data component
that was generated while the treatment was applied to such a tissue
portion and/or extraction. Alternatively or additionally, in some
variants, at least one such medium bears a Boolean computation or other
result 1663 derived (by detection circuitry as described herein, e.g.)
from raw data at sensor 1746.

[0077]With reference now to FIG. 18, shown is a context in which one or
more technologies may be implemented for using any of the above-described
protocols, devices, or other configurations. A surgeon 1840 may
manipulate a sensor-containing probe or take other actions that provide
input 1842 to system 1800 so that one or more conduits 1825, storage
media 1820, other participants or other resources in network 1830 have
access to transmitted results. In some contexts, such entities may
respond by transmitting an apparent tissue category 122 ("malignant" or
"unknown," e.g.), an identifier 141 or other recommendation 143, one or
more images or other results 192, 193 of an image processing or other
computational protocol 115, or other such output 1843 of potential
utility in a procedure being performed by surgeon 1840.

[0078]An embodiment provides one or more storage media 1820 or conduits
1825 bearing subject tissue data 1472 or other image data 1493 clearly
depicting at least some of a cell to which one or more stains 644 or
other agents 213, 893 effective for optical enhancement was applied in
vivo. This can occur, for example, in a context in which such image data
is transmitted to a surgeon via imaging eyewear 1841, projection surfaces
392, display outputs 1843, or other such presentation media.
Alternatively or additionally, such embodiments may include one or more
dispensers 891, 922, 1540 containing optical enhancement materials and
one or more sensors 1242, 1331, 1644, 1746 or other circuitry for
transmitting such device-detectable images.

[0079]With reference now to FIG. 19, shown is a context in which one or
more technologies may be implemented for performing one or more protocols
1961, 1962, 1963. In protocol 1961, for example, (6.31) a magnetic
resonance image or ultrasound scan reveals a growth of interest; (6.32) a
sample of tissue is taken into a chamber of a device extended into the
growth; (6.33) a chemical and optical treatment protocol is performed
upon the sample within the chamber; and (6.34) detection logic adjacent
the chamber transmits a go/no-go result of the protocol, presented via a
speaker or other output device. In an instance of system 1900 in which
scan 1970 reveals a growth of interest, for example, a surgical device
1960 can be extended into tissue 1992 to take a sample into a chamber
(formed by one or more blades 1981 of the device 1960, e.g.) within which
the chemical and/or optical treatments are performed. An ultrasound
sensor or other sensor 1982 (adjacent the chamber, e.g.) may, in some
variants, work in conjunction with a software or other remote module 1158
of pattern recognition logic 1150 or other detection logic configured to
transmit a go/no-go result. In a context in which surgeon 1840 selects a
given decision protocol 1962, this result can signify whether the
selected protocol's suggestion of whether to extract the tissue 1992. An
affirmative indicator 161 can, for example, be transmitted as a spoken
"yes" or beep via an earpiece or other speaker 1973, or a blue indicator
light in the surgeon's field of view. In a context in which a protocol
within the chamber takes about a second or more, an contingent negative
indicator can likewise be transmitted (as a spoken "no" or red light,
e.g.). Such suggestions can, in many contexts, facilitate a faster
execution of a surgical procedure in which two or more regions of tissue
are to be investigated.

[0080]Alternatively or additionally, some embodiments, may provide a
dispenser 921, 922, 1540 configured to apply a treatment material to
tissue 985, 1531 of an organism 1210 in vivo; a protrusion 1520 or other
cooling component configured to freeze at least some of the tissue 985,
1531 in vivo; and a blade 1981, rotary cutting element, retractable
element, or other extraction element configured to remove at least a
portion of the tissue from the organism.

[0081]In some variants, one or more results 192, 872 can comprise go/no-go
indications of (a) whether tissue apparently exhibits a pathology, (b)
whether tissue apparently exhibits a chromosomal attribute of interest,
(c) whether a fraction of tissue apparently meets a profile exceeds a
threshold, (d) whether other thresholds 1171 or criteria 1172 are met,
(e) whether an extraction meets a standard profile 1184, (f) whether a
selected profile 1185 specified by a pathologist 471 or other expert are
met, and/or (g) other such logical expressions. Such results may be
indicated by a color, symbol, or other expression in real time via a
surgeon's eyewear 1841 or other device 1960 in some contexts, for
example, or via some other such mode of output.

[0082]With reference now to FIG. 20, shown is a facility 2020 or other
context in which one or more technologies may be implemented for
performing one or more evaluation protocols 2081, 2082, 2083. In protocol
2081, for example, (4.11) various marking materials are applied to
respective positions in vivo of a living subject; (4.12) tissue to which
the materials have been applied is frozen in vivo; (4.13) samples are
extracted and analyzed; (4.14) results are stored or transmitted. In an
instance of system 2000 in an agricultural research facility, for
example, various formulations of markers 2051, 2052 or other materials
2053 may be applied to respective positions of plant tissue 2060 in vivo.
Effects of such materials may be evaluated, for example, by freezing and
extracting one or more portions 2061 of such tissue in vivo, potentially
without any substantial harm to the organism organism. Samples 2062 of
such tissue 2062 may then be analyzed (in a microscope or mass
spectroscope 2065, e.g.), and result data 2070 sent (via conduit 2090,
e.g.) to clients 2095 or other recipients.

[0083]In some embodiments, an "extraction" of frozen tissue may include
fine slices of the tissue (obtained by a laser microtome or
ultramicrotome, e.g.), whole cells, cytoplasmic or other fluid samples,
protein or other molecular fragments (observable by electrospray mass
spectrometry, e.g.), or other such forms of matter.

[0084]With reference now to FIG. 21, shown is a context in which one or
more technologies may be implemented for performing one or more protocols
2111, 2112, 2113. In protocol 2111, for example, (8.31) a distal end of a
tissue extractor or other sampling device is extended into tissue; (8.32)
one or more extracted cells in the device are electroperforated or
otherwise permeabilized; (8.33) one or more antibodies or other marking
agents penetrate the cells; and (8.34) results of the marking agents are
stored or transmitted. In some devices 2110 of system 2100, for example,
a permeabilizing agent, electroperforation module 2160, or other such
component effectively permits one or more marking agents 2165 or other
materials to enter one or more cells 2162 (in a chamber 2155 of a
sampling device 2150, e.g.).

[0085]In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may be
applied for temporarily or otherwise permeabilizing an organic membrane
to facilitate marking or other operations as described herein without
undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,412,284 ("Medical or
veterinary system for electroporation mediated delivery for drugs and
genes"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,393,680 ("Combined electroporation and
microinjection method for the penetration of lipid bilayer membranes");
U.S. Pat. No. 7,306,940 ("Electroporation device and method, delivering a
modulated signal under continuous control of cell
electropermeabilization"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,271,005 ("Modulation of
bacterial membrane permeability"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,186,559 ("Medical or
veterinary system and method for electroporation of biological samples");
U.S. Pat. No. 6,846,668 ("Microfabricated cell injector"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,706,088 ("Method for controlling membrane permeability by microwave and
method for producing organic separation membrane"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,589,503 ("Membrane-permeant peptide complexes for medical imaging,
diagnostics, and pharmaceutical therapy"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,319,901
("Methods for prolonging cell membrane permeability"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,015,834 ("In vivo treatment of mammalian cells with a cell membrane
permeant calcium buffer").

[0086]With reference now to FIG. 22, shown is a context in which one or
more technologies may be implemented. An embodiment provides a conduit
2284 or storage medium 2295 bearing cell attribute indicators 1050 or
other device-detectable data from a digital microscope 2270 or other such
equipment. Such equipment may be configured (a) to observe a marked
sample 2271 in a probe portion 2272 implementing an extraction module
540, 660, 850 suitable for extending into an organism's tissue and (b) to
transmit a result 872, 1194, 1687 of one or more therapeutic agents 333,
marking agents 2165, or other agents 893 having been applied (adjacent
device 2110, e.g.) to a portion of tissue in or from the organism.

[0087]In some variants, a surgical instrument or other device 2110
includes one or more primary chamber 2155 and an electroperforation
module 2160 or other treatment modules 530, 890 configured to apply
electrical, optical, or other treatments to a tissue sample or other
extraction in the chamber(s). Such configurations may likewise include a
camera or other output module configured to transmit a result of such
treatments (to network 2290, e.g.).

[0088]With reference now to FIG. 23, shown is a context in which one or
more technologies may be implemented for performing one or more protocols
2351, 2352, 2353, 2391, 2392, 2393. In protocol 2351, for example, (3.21)
an instrument is manipulated to inject a therapeutic agent into a region
of inflamed tissue; (3.22) a marking agent is applied, overlapping the
region; (3.23) an imaging system captures and analyzes a series of images
depicting an effect of the agents upon the inflamed tissue and upon other
tissue; and (3.24) the instrument transmits the images and analysis
results. In a context in which one or more systems 1100, 1400 are
implemented in facility 2310, for example, an analyst may invoke one or
more modules 1159 of image enhancement software or other pattern
recognition logic 1150 for analyzing a series of images 1191 depicting an
artificially or otherwise visible effect of the agents upon inflamed
cells and/or upon other tissue across a period of several minutes or
hours, for example.

[0089]Alternatively or additionally, for example, facility 2310 may
implement protocol 2391, in which (7.61) a probe is configured with a
cavity suitable to receive a tissue sample; (7.62) a treatment module of
the probe applies a fixative and a marking material to the tissue sample;
(7.63) another treatment module of the probe transmits energy selectively
into the cavity; and (7.64) a detection module transmits a result of the
energy upon the tissue sample. In a context in which one or more systems
300, 600 are implemented in facility 2310, for example, an applicator 340
or other component may cause one or more fixatives 331, 641; stains 644
or other marking agents 332; or other materials to come into contact with
tissue before, during, after, or interleaved with an extraction of such
tissue into a chamber 635. A light 345 or other treatment module may then
transmit energy selectively into the cavity, such as to minimize an
exposure of subject 380 or other individuals to such energy.

[0090]With reference now to FIG. 24, shown is a context in which one or
more technologies may be implemented. A facility 2410 may include or
otherwise interact with one or more MRI scanners 2402, interferometers
2404, fluorescence microscopes 2406, video microscopes 2408, flow
cytometers 2412, confocal microscopes 2414, spectrometers 2420,
extraction modules, or other such instruments. In some variants, for
example, such equipment may be configured to implement preliminary
protocols, to generate raw sensor data, or otherwise to facilitate
clinicians or other local users determining apparent attributes 2440 of
various tissues 240, 520, 640, 985, 1531, 2060; treatments; or
extractions 2452 as described herein.

[0091]In some protocols, for example, a user and/or device in facility
2410 applies one or more criteria 2437 locally for making a preliminary
determination of an "apparently irregular" or other chromosome type 2431
or other cell attribute 2435. One or more modules 2454 of invocation
logic 2455 may respond, for example, by selecting one or more providers
2475 or other network resources 2470 or otherwise by triggering an
evaluation process.

[0092]An embodiment provides one or more conduits 2465 bearing one or more
of raw sensor data, records 111, image data 871, organelle morphologies
or other types 2432 indicating cell attributes 2435, identifiers of
protocols used, or other types 2436 or apparent attributes 2440 of data
resulting from or otherwise indicating (a) an optical enhancement or
other chemical treatment material applied in vivo, (b) a freezing agent
or other fixative applied in vivo, and/or (c) an extraction of treated
tissue from an organism. In some variants, such signals may directly
invoke one or more protocols 2481, 2482, 2483 of spectral karyotyping
pseudo-coloring, BLAST searching or other sequence analysis, or other
common or standard processing logic 2480. Alternatively or additionally,
such signals may likewise permit a server or provider 2475 to implement
one or more protocols 2491, 2492, 2493 of custom image processing,
advanced diagnostic services, or other such specialized or proprietary
processing logic 2490. In any case, such network resources may respond
with updated criteria or protocols 114 for use by facility 2410, with a
specification of or response to a material or equipment inventory 2451,
or with other images 124, measurements 153, diagnoses, recommendations
144, authorizations, or other such feedback for use in facility 2410.

[0093]Alternatively or additionally, some variants may include a probe
comprising a first dispenser 921, 922, 1540 configured to apply a first
treatment material to tissue 985, 1531 of an organism 1210 in vivo, a
first optical element configured to transmit light into the tissue 985,
1531 of the organism in vivo, and a display or other output module
configured to transmit a result 1194, 1663 of at least the light and the
first treatment material upon the tissue of the organism in vivo.
Alternatively or additionally, such embodiments may include one or more
physical media 100, 1000 bearing an image 1662 (from a confocal
microscope 2412 or other laser-scanning optical module 1650, e.g.) of at
least some of a cell to which a material 213 was applied in vivo
primarily for optical enhancement.

[0094]In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may be
applied for detecting luminescence in an imaging or other analytical
protocol as described herein without undue experimentation. See, e.g.,
U.S. Pat. No. 7,372,985 ("Systems and methods for volumetric tissue
scanning microscopy"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,336,989 ("System and method for
quantitative or qualitative measurement of exogenous substances in tissue
and other materials using laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy"); U.S.
Pat. No. 7,310,547 ("Fluorescent fiberoptic probe for tissue health
discrimination"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,236,815 ("Method for probabilistically
classifying tissue in vitro and in vivo using fluorescence
spectroscopy"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,176,345 ("Transgenic animals expressing
light-emitting fusion proteins and diagnostic and therapeutic methods
therefor"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,139,598 ("Determination of a measure of a
glycation end-product or disease state using tissue fluorescence"); U.S.
Pat. No. 7,050,208 ("Scanning microscopy, fluorescence detection, and
laser beam positioning"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,984,828 ("Quantified
fluorescence microscopy"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,697,652 ("Fluorescence,
reflectance and light scattering spectroscopy for measuring tissue");
U.S. Pat. No. 6,631,289 ("System and method of fluorescence spectroscopic
imaging for characterization and monitoring of tissue damage"); U.S. Pat.
No. 6,510,338 ("Method of and devices for fluorescence diagnosis of
tissue, particularly by endoscopy"); U.S. Pub. No. 20070077639
("Estimation of activity or inhibition of processes involved in nucleic
acid modification using chemiluminescence quenching"). Alternatively or
additionally, such techniques may be used for manipulating and/or
observing such extractions 2452 or other forms of matter using a magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) scanner 2402, interferometer 2404, fluorescence
microscope 2408, video microscope 2408, electron microscope 770, flow
cytometer 2412, confocal microscope 2414, spectrometer 2420, or other
such equipment as described herein. Images or other results from such
equipment may be stored, presented, or otherwise transmitted on various
conduits 2465 or other media 100, 1000 as described herein, for example.
Alternatively or additionally, in some variants, probes or other
components of such instruments may include one or more surfaces 214, 574,
584, 1630 configured to permit a surgeon to extend extraction modules or
other probes into a subject organism.

[0095]With reference now to FIG. 25, shown is a flow 2500 comprising
operation 2560--obtaining device-detectable data indicating an extraction
of chemically treated tissue frozen in vivo (e.g. provider 2475 or other
network resources 2470 receiving image data 871, 1493 or other attribute
indicators 1080 depicting a sample of tissue 240, 1532 that has been
marked and then frozen in vivo before extraction). This can occur, for
example, in a context in which facility 2410 transmits subject tissue
data 1472 or other result data 1494 from within a probe 1510 or other
such on-site equipment. In some variants, for example, facility 2410 may
comprise a hospital at which a human or other subject 280 undergoes
surgery. Alternatively or additionally, operation 2560 may include one or
more instances of operation 2520--generating at least some of the
device-detectable data (e.g. provider 2475 deriving one or more images
1011 or other cell attribute indicators 1050 with one or more protocols
2482, 2492 of processing logic). This can occur, for example, in a
context in which such extractions comprise a bodily fluid or other
sub-cellular material containing molecular components of interest and in
which facility 2410 performs some data acquisition on behalf of provider
2475. Alternatively or additionally, provider 2470 may furnish facility
2410 with an inventory 2451 of suitable reagents for use in proprietary
protocols, with or without revealing their composition. Flow 2500 further
includes operation 2580--transmitting an evaluation of the
device-detectable data (e.g. provider 2475 transmitting a summary, a
responsive record 111, a diagnosis, a category 121, an estimate, or other
such indicators 162 as described herein).

[0096]With reference now to FIG. 26, shown is a flow 2600 comprising
operation 2640--obtaining device-detectable data indicating a treatment
of a tissue sample in a chamber extended into tissue of an organism (e.g.
evaluation module 1140 or other such resources receiving measurements
153, images 1191, pathological data, or other such information that
includes data from sensors 553, 1644, 1746 about samples 552, 1112, 2062
of tissue 240, 1755, 2060). This can occur, for example, in a context in
which a surgical probe or other device 610, 800, 1330, 1710 configured
for tissue extraction has such sensors positioned adjacent an extraction
module 540, 660, 850 or other such recessed portion. Alternatively or
additionally, operation 2640 may include one or more instances of
operation 2630--generating at least some of the device-detectable data
(e.g. instrument 1110 monitoring sample 1112 during or after an optical,
chemical, or other treatment). This can occur, for example, in a context
in which a syringe or other instrument 1110 includes or otherwise
interacts with a flow cytometer 2412, spectrometer 2420, or imaging
system as described herein. Alternatively or additionally, instrument
1110 may include or otherwise interact with invocation logic 2455
configured to request or otherwise trigger evaluation by one or more
modules 1157 of pattern recognition logic 1150, provider 2475, or other
such resources. Flow 2600 further includes operation 2670--transmitting
an evaluation of the device-detectable data (e.g. evaluation module 1140
transmitting one or more images 1191, types 1192, values 1193, diagnoses,
or other results 1194 from the device-detectable data conforming to one
or more pathological profiles 1182). This can occur, for example, in a
context in which evaluation module 1140 responds to such invocations
within a few minutes, for example, optionally by applying one or more
protocols 2493 of proprietary processing logic 2490 in a highly
specialized and central facility.

[0097]With reference now to FIG. 27, shown is a flow 2700 comprising
operation 2750--obtaining a device-detectable image of at least some of a
cell to which an optical enhancement material was applied in vivo (e.g.
pattern recognition logic 1150 or other evaluation logic 1620 receiving
such images 1191 from a confocal microscope 2414, a charge-coupled
device, or other such optical modules 1640). This can occur, for example,
in a context in which a vital stain or other marking agent 2165 has been
accepted into the cell(s) 2162 in vivo, in which such equipment is
configured to observe the cell(s) in vivo or in a chamber of probe 1610,
and in which such evaluation modules 1140 or other resources include an
image recognition module 1152 or other protocols for image analysis.
Alternatively or additionally, operation 2750 may include one or more
instances of operation 2710--generating at least some other
device-detectable data (e.g. one or more instruments 1110, sensors 1746,
inputs 1842, or other components providing one or more concentrations 151
or other measurements 153, phenotypes, physiological responses 355,
symptoms, protocols 1122, or other such supplemental input 110 from a
clinician 1490, subject, or other user). This can occur, for example, in
a context in which one or more modules 1157 of pattern recognition logic
1150 queries such a user in response to image recognition module 1152
reporting a success or failure in locating a key feature in the image(s)
of the cell(s), for example. In a context in which module 1156 recognizes
a dark-field image, for example, pattern recognition logic 1150 may
respond by triggering a user query as to (a) whether an image is from a
fluorescence microscope 2406 or other recognized equipment, (b) which
protocols were applied, (c) who or what performed the protocols, (d)
where and when such protocols were applied, (e) what pathological
indicators were present, or other such result-determinant data.
Alternatively or additionally, one or more records 1690 may include data
indicative of one or more medicants administered by port 1674, one or
more treatments administered by an emitter 1642 or thermal element 1672,
or other such data potentially affecting one or more modules 1621-1626 of
evaluation logic 1620 or other processing logic. Flow 2700 further
includes operation 2790--transmitting an evaluation of the
device-detectable image (e.g. one or more protocols 2481, 2491 of
standard processing logic 2481, proprietary processing logic 2490, or
other network resources 2470 transmitting one or more categories 121,
estimates, sizes 1031, morphologies 1032, chromosomal patterns 1040, or
other such cell attribute indicators at least partly derived from cell
images). This can occur, for example, in a context in which such image
data 1493 depicts one or more cell features with sufficient clarity to
facilitate a diagnosis or other inference and in which system 2400
includes or otherwise interacts with one or more components of system
1100 via one or more conduits 2465 or other media 100, 1000.

[0098]With reference now to FIG. 28, shown is a distributed or other
system 2800 comprising one or more implementations 2801, 2803; one or
more modules 2841, 2842, 2843, 2844, 2845, 2846, 2847, 2848 of control
logic 2840; one or more modules 2851, 2852, 2853, 2854, 2855, 2856, 2857,
2858 of evaluation logic 2850; or one or more modules 2861, 2862, 2863 of
selection logic 2870. Such implementations may include one or more
microtomes 2884 or other material handling equipment, one or more
applicators 2885 or other tissue or extraction treatment equipment; laser
scanning equipment 2890 or other imaging or measurement equipment, or
other such components 2811, 2812, 2813, 2814, 2815, 2816 for interacting
with such logic and/or generating data 2821, 2822, 2823, 2824, 2825, 2826
as described below.

[0099]Referring again to FIG. 27, some instances of flow 2700 may be
implemented entirely within system 2800. Operation 2750 may be
implemented by configuring one or more sensors or other components 2814,
2815 as logic for obtaining device-detectable images or other data
indicating tissue to which an optical enhancement material was applied in
vivo, for example, such as by including special-purpose instruction
sequences or special-purpose-circuit designs for this function. Output
data 2824, 2825 from such a component in system 2800 may (optionally) be
recorded or presented locally. Component 2815 may perform operation 2710
via implementation as logic for generating at least some of the
device-detectable data, for example. Implementation output data 2825 from
such a component in system 2800 may likewise be recorded locally or
transmitted one or more media 100, 1000, for example. Component 2816 may
perform operation 2790 via implementation as logic for transmitting an
evaluation of the device-detectable data. Output 2804 from flow 2700 may
likewise include other data 2826 as described herein. Each portion of
implementation 2803 may likewise include one or more instances of
software, hardware, or the like implementing logic that may be expressed
in several respective forms as described herein or otherwise understood
by those skilled in the art.

[0100]Referring again to FIG. 27, some instances of flow 2700 may be
implemented entirely within system 2800. Operation 2750 may be
implemented by configuring one or more sensors or other components 2814,
2815 as logic for obtaining device-detectable data including (a) an
earlier image depicting at least some of a cell to which an optical
enhancement material was applied in vivo and (b) a later image depicting
at least some of the cell to which the optical enhancement material was
applied in vivo, for example. Output data 2824, 2825 from such a
component in system 2800 may be recorded or displayed locally one such
media, in some variants. Component 2815 may perform operation 2710 via
implementation as logic for generating at least some of the
device-detectable data, for example. Implementation output data 2825 from
such a component in system 2800 may likewise be recorded locally or
transmitted one or more media 100, 1000, for example. Component 2816 may
perform operation 2790 via implementation as logic for transmitting an
evaluation of the device-detectable data. Output 2804 from flow 2700 may
likewise include other data 2826 as described herein. Each portion of
implementation 2803 may likewise include one or more instances of
software, hardware, or the like implementing logic that may be expressed
in several respective forms as described herein or otherwise understood
by those skilled in the art.

[0101]Firstly, referring again to FIGS. 5 & 12, some embodiments may
include software-controlled or other special-purpose circuitry for
positioning or otherwise configuring a surgical or other instrument with
removable components. In light of teachings herein, numerous existing
techniques may be applied for implementing such modules 2841 of software
or other control logic 2840 as described herein without undue
experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,367,973 ("Electro-surgical
instrument with replaceable end-effectors and inhibited surface
conduction"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,179,263 ("Methods and instruments for
laparoscopic spinal surgery"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,008,431 ("Configured and
sized cannula"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,974,483 ("Modular neck for femur
replacement surgery"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,692,514 ("Surgical clamp having
replaceable pad"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,984 ("Laparoscopic instrument with
a detachable tip"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,704 ("Bipolar electrosurgical
instrument with replaceable electrodes"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,954
("Surgical clamp with replaceable clamp members"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,197,002 ("Laparoscopic tool and method"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,174,291
("Optical biopsy system and methods for tissue diagnosis"); U.S. Pat. No.
5,893,875 ("Surgical instrument with replaceable jaw assembly").
Alternatively or additionally, such modules may comprise or otherwise
interact with circuitry for positioning a distal portion 550, dispenser,
or entirety of a probe 590 or other instrument 1260.

[0102]Secondly, some variants may include handling and/or imaging devices
configured to facilitate observation of tissue 240, 1531, 1755, 2060 or
other forms of matter, with or without fixatives 331, 641 or other such
delay-inducing treatments. In light of teachings herein, numerous
existing techniques may be applied for implementing one or more modules
of 2843 of control logic 2840 for such functions as described herein
without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,347,817
("Polarized in vivo imaging device, system and method"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,303,741 ("Systems and methods for high-resolution in vivo imaging of
biochemical activity in a living organism"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,267,648
("Magnifying image pickup unit for an endoscope, an endoscope for in vivo
cellular observation that uses it, and endoscopic, in vivo cellular
observation methods"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,230,242 ("Methods for SEM
inspection of fluid containing samples"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,009,634
("Device for in-vivo imaging"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,611,716 ("Multi-phasic
microphotodiode retinal implant and adaptive imaging retinal stimulation
system"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,546,272 ("Apparatus for in vivo imaging of the
respiratory tract and other internal organs"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,296,608
("Diagnosing and performing interventional procedures on tissue in
vivo"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,411,672 ("Method and apparatus for chemical
imaging in a microfluidic circuit"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,391,936
("Microfluidic sensors and methods for making the same"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,214,298 ("Microfabricated cell sorter"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,160,730
("Method and apparatus for cell sorting"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,897,031
("Multiparameter FACS assays to detect alterations in exocytosis"); U.S.
Pat. No. 6,692,952 ("Cell analysis and sorting apparatus for manipulation
of cells"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,455,263 ("Small molecule library screening
using FACS"); U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,216 ("Flow cytometry nozzle for high
efficiency cell sorting"); U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,341 ("Selective cloning
for high monoclonal antibody secreting hybridomas"). Alternatively or
additionally, such modules may comprise or otherwise interact with
optical modules 1650, microscopes, or other imaging equipment operable
for receiving one or more separable extraction modules 660, 850 (of a
probe, e.g.) that contain a chamber 955 or other such feature (configured
to bear tissue 985, 2060, e.g.).

[0103]Thirdly, some variants may include software-controlled or other
special-purpose circuitry for controlling one or more instances of
microtomes 2884, applicators 2885 containing protein-dissolving
materials, or other modes of extracting or dividing tissue samples. In
light of teachings herein, numerous existing protocols may be applied for
implementing one or more modules 2844 of control logic 2840 operable for
such manipulation as described herein without undue experimentation. See,
e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,354,775 ("Reagent for partially lysing a cell
membrane of a red blood cell, a reagent for detecting malaria infected
red blood cells, and a sample analyzing method for detecting malaria
infected red blood cells"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,156,814 ("Apparatus and
method for harvesting and handling tissue samples for biopsy analysis");
U.S. Pat. No. 7,115,386 ("Device and method for carrying out
immunological marking techniques for thin-sectioned tissue"); U.S. Pat.
No. 6,942,169 ("Micromachined lysing device and method for performing
cell lysis"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,623,945 ("System and method for microwave
cell lysing of small samples"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,558,629 ("Device and
method for preparing tissue specimen for histologic sectioning"); U.S.
Pat. No. 6,113,584 ("Intraluminal delivery of tissue lysing medium");
U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,258 ("Method for correction of quantitative DNA
measurements in a tissue section"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,476 ("Method for
embedding and sectioning specimen").

[0104]Fourthly, some variants may include software-controlled or other
special-purpose circuitry for causing a visible modification of a
selected portion of tissue in vivo or otherwise. In light of teachings
herein, numerous existing techniques may be applied for implementing such
modules 2847, 2861 of selection logic 2870 or other control logic 2840 as
described herein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.
7,332,360 ("Early detection of metal wiring reliability using a noise
spectrum"); U.S. Pat. No. 7329414 ("Biodegradable polymer for marking
tissue and sealing tracts"); U.S. Pat. No. 7285364 ("Permanent, removable
tissue markings"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,127,040 ("Device and method for margin
marking tissue to be radiographed"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,047,063 ("Tissue
site markers for in vivo imaging"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,780,179 ("Methods and
systems for in situ tissue marking and orientation stabilization"); U.S.
Pat. No. 6,745,067 ("System for marking the locations of imaged tissue
with respect to the surface of the tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,646
("Instrument and method for locating and marking a hot spot in a person's
body tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,432,064 ("Biopsy instrument with tissue
marking element"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,39,4965 ("Tissue marking using
biocompatible microparticles"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,296,608 ("Diagnosing and
performing interventional procedures on tissue in vivo"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,228,055 ("Devices for marking and defining particular locations in body
tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,107 ("Method for positioning and marking a
patient at a diagnostic apparatus"). Alternatively or additionally, such
modules may implement circuitry for causing a marking agent or other
material to be applied to one or more cells in situ in response to user
input. In some variants, for example, such an application may start or
end within a few seconds or minutes of a user's "dispense now" signal.

[0105]Fifthly, some variants may include software-controlled or other
special-purpose configurations for permitting optical or other equipment
to receive an extraction module or other vessel as described herein. In
light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may be applied
for implementing such modules 2848 of control logic 2840 without undue
experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,411,672 ("Method and
apparatus for chemical imaging in a microfluidic circuit"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,410,055 ("Transport container for slides for immunological labeling for
thin tissue sections"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,364,655 ("Method and apparatus
for injecting a sample into a chromatography system"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,361,305 ("Analyzer system having sample rack transfer line"); U.S. Pat.
No. 7,273,759 ("Plate alignment and sample transfer indicia for a
multiwell multiplate stack and method for processing biological/chemical
samples using the same"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,230,242 ("Methods for SEM
inspection of fluid containing samples"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,698
("Capillary electrophoretic apparatus, sample plate and sample injection
method"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,172,558 ("Device for containing and analyzing
surgically excised tissue and related methods"); U.S. Pat. No. 6939,452
("Parallel sample loading and injection device for multichannel
microfluidic devices"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,833,267 ("Tissue collection
devices containing biosensors"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,418 ("Sample
transfer apparatus and sample stage"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,372,182
("Integrated body fluid collection and analysis device with sample
transfer component"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,978 ("Apparatus and method for
transfer of a fluid sample").

[0106]Sixthly, some variants may indicate one or more genetic anomalies or
other chromosomal patterns 1040 characterizing an image or other optical
field of a sensor, an extraction, or another mode or region. In light of
teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may be applied for
relating such output from one or more modules 2851 of evaluation logic
2850 to such attributes as described herein without undue
experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,368,245 ("Method and probes
for the detection of chromosome aberrations"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,303,880
("Microdissection-based methods for determining genomic features of
single chromosomes"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,205,109 ("Method for detecting
hepatocarcinoma susceptibility by detecting a tumor related gene in the
region of human chromosome 17 p. 13.3"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,176,345
("Transgenic animals expressing light-emitting fusion proteins and
diagnostic and therapeutic methods therefor"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,115,709
("Methods of staining target chromosomal DNA employing high complexity
nucleic acid probes"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,094,534 ("Detection of chromosoal
abnormalities associated with breast cancer"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,034,144
("Molecular detection of chromosome aberrations"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,014
997 ("Chromosome structural abnormality localization with single copy
probes"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,677,123 ("Process for detecting increased risk
of fetal chromosomal abnormality"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,607,877 ("Methods and
compositions for chromosome-specific staining"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,566,069
("Gene sequencer and method for determining the nucleotide sequence of a
chromosome"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,455,258 ("Detection of chromosome copy
number changes to distinguish melanocytic nevi from malignant melanoma");
U.S. Pat. No. 6,344,315 ("Chromosome-specific staining to detect genetic
rearrangements associated with chromosome 3 and/or chromosome 17"); U.S.
Pat. No. 6,280,929 ("Method of detecting genetic translocations
identified with chromosomal abnormalities"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,277,569
("Methods for multiple direct label probe detection of multiple
chromosomes or regions thereof by in situ hybridization").

[0107]Sevently, some variants may include special-purpose circuitry for
characterizing cell and/or organ types or otherwise processing
device-detectable data. In light of teachings herein, numerous existing
techniques may be applied for implementing such modules 2853 of
evaluation logic 2850 as described herein without undue experimentation.
See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,289,835 ("Multivariate analysis of green to
ultraviolet spectra of cell and tissue samples"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,277,740
("Analysis system for reagent-free determination of the concentration of
an analyte in living tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,233,330 ("Organ wall
analysis with ray-casting"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,167,734 ("Method for optical
measurements of tissue to determine disease state or concentration of an
analyte"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,155,050 ("Method of analyzing cell samples, by
creating and analyzing a resultant image"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,050,842
("Method of tissue modulation for noninvasive measurement of an
analyte"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,716,633 ("Blood cell detector, blood analyzer
and blood analyzing method using the detector"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,461,828
("Conjunctive analysis of biological marker expression for diagnosing
organ failure"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,372,183 ("Automated analysis equipment
and assay method for detecting cell surface protein and/or cytoplasmic
receptor function using same"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,174,698 ("Micro
lysis-analysis process to measure cell characteristics"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,080,551 ("Rapid assays for the assessment of organ status based on the
detection of one or more isoenzymes of glutathione S-transferase").

[0108]Eighthly, some variants may include special-purpose circuitry for
processing data from one or more assays. In light of teachings herein,
numerous existing techniques may be applied for implementing such modules
2856 of evaluation logic 2850 as described herein without undue
experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,351,546 ("Flow cytometric,
whole blood dendritic cell immune function assay"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,230,086 ("Assay for YKL-40 as a marker for degradation of mammalian
connective tissue matrices"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,226,753 ("Displacement
assay for selective biological material detection"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,217,563 ("Cytotoxic assay and new established cell line of sturgeon
origin"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,214,505 ("Cell-based assay for the detection of
toxic analytes"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,045,311 ("Whole cell assay systems for
cell surface proteases"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,864,053 ("Quantitative assay of
host cell DNA in a sample"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,852,906 ("Assay for
measuring enzyme activity in vivo"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,849,406 ("Reverse
transcriptase assay kit, use thereof and method for analysis of RT
activity in biological samples"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,790,611 ("Assay for
directly detecting a RS virus related biological cell in a body fluid
sample"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,756,233 ("Method for measuring free ligands in
biological fluids, and assay kits for measuring same"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,610,494 ("Solid-phase activity assay for biologically active
substance"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,455,684 ("Insitu assay of substance in
biological sample using labeled probe"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,391,555 ("Assay
for the detection of avian leukosis/sarcoma viruses (ALSV) in DNA from
human and animal biological specimens"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,372,183
("Automated analysis equipment and assay method for detecting cell
surface protein and/or cytoplasmic receptor function using same"); U.S.
Pat. No. 6,159,699 ("Enzyme linked chemiluminescent assay"). Some such
variants, for example, may include pattern recognition logic 1150 or
other circuitry for processing image data 871, evaluation data 1180,
video data 1686, sensor data, result data 2070, digital output, or other
data 1279, 2441 as described herein. Alternatively or additionally, such
modules may implement or otherwise interact with one or more protocols
2483, 2493 relating to an assay as described herein.

[0109]Ninthly, some variants may categorically or otherwise indicate one
or more cellular specializations, orientations, response characteristics,
morphologies 1032, biomarkers 1075, or other cell attributes. In light of
teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may be applied for
relating such output from one or more modules 2857 of evaluation logic
2850 to such attributes as described herein without undue
experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,384,781 ("Sensors for
biomolecular detection and cell classification"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,183,389
("Monoclonal antibodies and cell surface antigens for the detection and
treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC)"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,045,311
("Whole cell assay systems for cell surface proteases"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,975,899 ("Multi-modal optical tissue diagnostic system"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,927,049 ("Cell viability detection using electrical measurements");
U.S. Pat. No. 6,670,197 ("Method for assaying whole blood for the
presence or absence of circulating cancer or other target cell
fragments"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,599,694 ("Method of characterizing potential
therapeutics by determining cell-cell interactions"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,123,860 ("Method for separating cell populations by thermophilic
characteristics"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,106,778 ("Blood cell count/immunoassay
apparatus using whole blood"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,387,895 ("Monoclonal
antibody specific for PPAR gamma, hydridoma cell line producing the same,
and method for detecting regulator related to diseases, including
inflammation, cancer and metabolic diseases, using the same"); U.S. Pat.
No. 7,354,775 ("Reagent for partially lysing a cell membrane of a red
blood cell, a reagent for detecting malaria infected red blood cells, and
a sample analyzing method for detecting malaria infected red blood
cells"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,291,710 ("Detection of spectrin and spectrin
proteolytic cleavage products in assessing nerve cell damage"); U.S. Pat.
No. 7,256,252 ("Methods for detecting cell apoptosis"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,166,427 ("Detecting the expression of the DESCI gene in squamous cell
carcinoma"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,155,361 ("Semiconductor test management
system and method"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,155,050 ("Method of analyzing cell
samples, by creating and analyzing a resultant image"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,112,415 ("Method of preparing cell cultures from biological specimens
for assaying a response to an agent"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,105,292
("Screening methods used to identify compounds that modulate a response
of a cell to ultraviolet radiation exposure"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,022,516
("Well unit for detecting cell chemotaxis and separating chemotactic
cells"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,958,221 ("Cell flow apparatus and method for
real-time measurements of patient cellular responses"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,900,049 ("Adenovirus vectors containing cell status-specific response
elements and methods of use thereof"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,808,890 ("Method
of detecting a cancerous cell expressing EGFL6, and EGF mutif protein");
U.S. Pat. No. 6,607,879 ("Compositions for the detection of blood cell
and immunological response gene expression"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,372,183
("Automated analysis equipment and assay method for detecting cell
surface protein and/or cytoplasmic receptor function using same"). Some
such variants, for example, may include pattern recognition logic 1150 or
other circuitry for processing image data 871, video data 1686, sensor
data, evaluation data 1180, result data 2070, digital output, or other
data 1279, 2441 as described herein. Some such modules, for example, may
include software-controlled or other circuitry for processing
device-detectable data obtained from one or more biomarker detection
protocols as described herein. Alternatively or additionally, such
modules may implement or otherwise interact with one or more protocols
2483, 2493 for evaluating data, for example, from an assay as described
above.

[0110]Tenthly, some variants may include medical databases or other
special-purpose circuitry for characterizing types of genetic/chromosomal
abnormalities and their consequences. In light of teachings herein,
numerous existing techniques may be applied for implementing such modules
2858 of evaluation logic 2850 as described herein without undue
experimentation. See, e.g, U.S. Pat. No. 7,371,522 ("Use of polymorphism
of the serotonin transporter gene promoter as a predictor of disease
risk"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,217,547 ("Aspartoacylase gene, protein, and
methods of screening for mutations associated with Canavan disease");
U.S. Pat. No. 7,141,373 ("Method of haplotype-based genetic analysis for
determining risk for developing insulin resistance and coronary artery
disease"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,094,534 ("Detection of chromosoal
abnormalities associated with breast cancer"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,060,438
("Method for analyzing a patient's genetic prediposition to at least one
disease and amplification adapted to such a method"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,973,388 ("Methods of diagnosing disease states using gene expression
profiles"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,808,881 ("Method for determining
susceptibility to heart disease by screening polymorphisms in the vitamin
D receptor gene"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,673,546 ("Genetic loci indicative of
propensity for longevity and methods for identifying propensity for
age-related disease"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,485,911 ("Methods for determining
risk of developing alzheimer's disease by detecting mutations in the
presenilin 2 (PS-2) gene"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,306,603 ("CD36 mutant gene
and methods for diagnosing diseases caused by abnormal lipid metabolism
and diagnostic kits therefor"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,929 ("Method of
detecting genetic translocations identified with chromosomal
abnormalities"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,251,601 ("Simultaneous measurement of
gene expression and genomic abnormalities using nucleic acid
microarrays"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,225,069 ("Methods to identify genetic
predisposition to alzheimer's disease"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,221,607
("Automated fluorescence in situ hybridization detection of genetic
abnormalities"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,210,889 ("Method for enrichment of fetal
cells from maternal blood and use of same in determination of fetal sex
and detection of chromosomal abnormalities").

[0111]Alternatively or additionally, some variants may measure, image, or
otherwise indicate an organ or other cell group's attributes. In light of
teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may be applied for
relating such output from one or more modules 2854 of evaluation logic
2850 to such attributes as described herein without undue
experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,333,845 ("Non-invasive
imaging for determination of global tissue characteristics"); U.S. Pat.
No. 7,309,867 ("Methods and apparatus for characterization of tissue
samples"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,301,629 ("Apparatus and method for determining
tissue characteristics"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,257,244 ("Elastography imaging
modalities for characterizing properties of tissue"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,155,042 ("Method and system of measuring characteristics of an organ");
U.S. Pat. No. 7,074,188 ("System and method of characterizing vascular
tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,902 ("Method and apparatus for measuring
biomechanical characteristics of corneal tissue"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,975,899 ("Multi-modal optical tissue diagnostic system"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,954,667 ("Method for Raman chemical imaging and characterization of
calcification in tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,912,412 ("System and methods
of fluorescence, reflectance and light scattering spectroscopy for
measuring tissue characteristics"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,678,552 ("Tissue
characterization based on impedance images and on impedance
measurements"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,507,747 ("Method and apparatus for
concomitant structural and biochemical characterization of tissue"); U.S.
Pat. No. 6,208,749 ("Systems and methods for the multispectral imaging
and characterization of skin tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,698
("Apparatus for monitoring functional characteristics of an organ
intended for transplantations"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,372,985 ("Systems and
methods for volumetric tissue scanning microscopy"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,366,365 ("Tissue scanning apparatus and method"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,359,548 ("Method and apparatus for automated image analysis of
biological specimens"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,230,242 ("Methods for SEM
inspection of fluid containing samples"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,129,473
("Optical image pickup apparatus for imaging living body tissue"); U.S.
Pat. No. 6,909,792 ("Historical comparison of breast tissue by image
processing"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,594,021 ("Analysis system for
interferometric scanning of donor corneal tissue"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,510,338 ("Method of and devices for fluorescence diagnosis of tissue,
particularly by endoscopy"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,050 ("X-ray detector and
method for tissue specific image"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,829
("Autofluorescence imaging system for endoscopy"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,256,530 ("Optical instrument and technique for cancer diagnosis using
in-vivo fluorescence emission of test tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,165,128
("Method and apparatus for making an image of a lumen or other body
cavity and its surrounding tissue").

[0112]Alternatively or additionally, some variants may include
software-controlled or other special-purpose circuitry for selecting a
dispenser 921, 1540 or otherwise causing at least a component of tissue
to come into contact with a stain effective for indicating whether the
tissue exhibits an abnormality in a chromosomal pattern 1040 or some
other attribute of interest. In light of teachings herein, numerous
existing techniques may be applied for relating such output from one or
more modules 2862 of selection logic 2870 to such attributes as described
herein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,344,587
("Magnetic ink tissue markings"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,332,360 ("Early
detection of metal wiring reliability using a noise spectrum"); U.S. Pat.
No. 7,329,414 ("Biodegradable polymer for marking tissue and sealing
tracts"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,285,364 ("Permanent, removable tissue
markings"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,047,063 ("Tissue site markers for in vivo
imaging"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,015,013 ("Method for localized staining of an
intact corneal tissue surface"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,998,270 ("Automated
tissue staining system and reagent container"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,830,743
("In vivo stain compounds and methods of use to identify dysplastic
tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,599,496 ("Endoscopy tissue stain"); U.S. Pat.
No. 6,436,348 ("Staining apparatus for preparation of tissue specimens
placed on microscope slides"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,852 ("In vivo stain
composition, process of manufacture, and methods of use to identify
dysplastic tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,495 ("Staining apparatus for
staining of tissue specimens on microscope slides").

[0113]With reference now to FIG. 29, shown is a context in which one or
more technologies may be implemented in a linking module 2900 (among two
or more instruments, modules, networks, users, or other such resources,
e.g.). In some variants, software-controlled or other modules 2961, 2962,
2963, 2964, 2965 of linking module 2900 may be configured to process or
otherwise bear one or more records 2910, 2920; values 2951, 2952, 2953,
2954, 2955, 2956, 2957, 2958, 2959; identifiers 2911, 2912 or other
components 2913, 2914, 2924; data 2940; or other indicators 2931, 2932 as
described herein.

[0114]In some variants, such data "indicates" a therapeutic or other
treatment of tissue or an extraction. This can occur, for example, in a
context in which the treatment has an optical or other detectable effect
upon some component of extracted matter. Alternatively or additionally,
such an effect may be conditional upon a molecular structure being
present in the tissue or extraction, for example, such that an absence of
the detectable effect indicates a lower likelihood and/or concentration
of the molecular structure.

[0115]Some variants may include special-purpose circuitry or other
components for applying hybridization or other diagnostic protocols to
one or more cells of a sample. In light of teachings herein, numerous
existing techniques may be applied by one or more modules 2863, 2962 of
selection or other logic for invoking an appropriate diagnostic protocol.
Some such variants, for example, may include media bearing one or more
excitation wavelengths, emission wavelengths, magnifications or other
such values 2955, 2956 usable in a fluorescence microscope 2406 as
described herein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.
7,348,361 ("Solution for diagnosing or treating tissue pathologies");
U.S. Pat. No. 7,326,575 ("Methods and compositions for the preparation
and use of fixed-treated cell-lines and tissue in fluorescence in situ
hybridization"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,237,392 ("System for preparing cutaneous
tissue samples for oncological histology study and diagnosis"); U.S. Pat.
No. 7,230,086 ("Assay for YKL-40 as a marker for degradation of mammalian
connective tissue matrices"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,946,287 ("Device for
providing a hybridization chamber, and process unit and system for
hybridizing nucleic acid samples, proteins, and tissue sections"); U.S.
Pat. No. 6,852,906 ("Assay for measuring enzyme activity in vivo"); U.S.
Pat. No. 6,697,665 ("Systems and methods of molecular spectroscopy to
provide for the diagnosis of tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,510,338 ("Method
of and devices for fluorescence diagnosis of tissue, particularly by
endoscopy"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,296,608 ("Diagnosing and performing
interventional procedures on tissue in vivo"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,159,699
("Enzyme linked chemiluminescent assay"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,157,856
("Tissue diagnostics using evanescent spectroscopy"); U.S. Pat. No.
5,998,139 ("Assay for determination of neuronal activity in brain
tissue"). Alternatively or additionally, such modules or media may
receive or otherwise obtain a diagnostic identifier or other result of
positioning a cell in a microfluidic structure.

[0116]Some variants may include special-purpose modules 2964 or other
circuitry for causing diagnostic procedures on body fluids or other
sample components. In light of teachings herein, numerous existing
techniques may be applied for obtaining a karyotype or other data
component relating to tissue, blood, or other fluid extracted from an
organism as described herein without undue experimentation. See, e.g.,
U.S. Pat. No. 7,384,791 ("Method of analyzing blood"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,354,775 ("Reagent for partially lysing a cell membrane of a red blood
cell, a reagent for detecting malaria infected red blood cells, and a
sample analyzing method for detecting malaria infected red blood cells");
U.S. Pat. No. 7,316,649 ("Method and apparatus for non-invasive analysis
of blood glucose"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,276,376 ("Analyzing method of a blood
coagulation reaction"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,258,673 ("Devices, systems and
methods for extracting bodily fluid and monitoring an analyte therein");
U.S. Pat. No. 7,192,405 ("Integrated lancet and bodily fluid sensor");
U.S. Pat. No. 7,188,515 ("Nanoliter viscometer for analyzing blood plasma
and other liquid samples"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,995 ("Methods and systems
for point of care bodily fluid analysis"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,027,134
("Spectrophotometric system and method for the identification and
characterization of a particle in a bodily fluid"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,016,021 ("Method for measuring concentration of component contained in
bodily fluid and apparatus for measuring concentration of component
contained in bodily fluid"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,901 ("Method and kit for
the transdermal determination of analyte concentration in blood"); U.S.
Pat. No. 6,736,777 ("Biosensor, iontophoretic sampling system, and
methods of use thereof"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,718,189 ("Method and apparatus
for non-invasive blood analyte measurement with fluid compartment
equilibration"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,339,722 ("Apparatus for the in-vivo
non-invasive measurement of a biological parameter concerning a bodily
fluid of a person or animal"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,246,785 ("Automated,
microscope-assisted examination process of tissue or bodily fluid
samples"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,023,639 ("Non-invasive bodily fluid withdrawal
and monitoring system"); U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,225 ("Bodily fluid test kit
and method of testing bodily fluids"). Some such variants, for example,
may include media bearing one or more magnifications, capture modes, or
other such values 2953, 2954 usable in a digital microscope 2270 as
described herein. Alternatively or additionally, such modules may
comprise or otherwise interact with media bearing one or more spectral
ranges, acquisition durations, or other such values 2952, 2954 usable in
a spectrometer 2420 as described herein.

[0117]In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may be
applied for configuring antibodies for detecting antigens of particular
interest as described herein. Some variants may include special-purpose
modules 2965 or other circuitry for detecting a result of
antibody-containing or other optical enhancement materials indicating an
absence of or a presence of a chromosomal pattern 1040 or other attribute
in a cell, for example, without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S.
Pat. No. 7,396,915 ("Monoclonal antibody and gene encoding the same,
hybridoma, pharmaceutical composition, and diagnostic reagent"); U.S.
Pat. No. 7,387,895 ("Monoclonal antibody specific for PPAR gamma,
hydridoma cell line producing the same, and method for detecting
regulator related to diseases, including inflammation, cancer and
metabolic diseases, using the same"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,364,863
("Monoclonal antibody W8B2 and method of use"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,320,791
("Monoclonal antibody for analysis and clearance of polyethylene glycol
and polyethylene glycol-modified molecules"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,241,578
("Immunoassay method/equipment, biological component measurable toilet,
anti-albumin monoclonal antibody, cell strain producing the same, and
albumin detection kit"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,198,104 ("Subterranean fluids
and methods of cementing in subterranean formations"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,148,332 ("High affinity monoclonal antibody for recognizing the
estrogen receptor (ER) and method for creating the antibody"); U.S. Pat.
No. 7,087,396 ("Monoclonal antibody and method and kit for immunoassay of
soluble human ST2"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,038,021 ("Anti-dioxins monoclonal
antibody suitable for assaying dioxins in environment and hybridoma
producing the same"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,989,241 ("Assay for rapid detection
of human activated protein C and highly specific monoclonal antibody
therefor"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,919,435 ("Human lung adenocarcinoma-related
monoclonal antibody and antigen and immunoassay method which uses the
same"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,849,419 ("Monoclonal antibody hybridoma
immunoassay method and diagnosis kit"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,787,153 ("Human
monoclonal antibody specifically binding to surface antigen of cancer
cell membrane"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,709,833 ("Monoclonal antibody
recognizing phosphatidylinositol-3,4-diphosphate"). Alternatively or
additionally, such modules may comprise or otherwise interact with media
bearing one or more excitation wavelengths, emission wavelengths,
magnifications or other such values 2955, 2956 usable in a fluorescence
microscope 2406 as described herein.

[0118]Some variants may include special-purpose circuitry for including or
otherwise interacting with protein-based arrays, biopolymers, or other
biosensors (of probes 210, 1510 or other instruments 1110, e.g.). This
can occur, for example, in a context in which a conduit 1130 or other
medium bears one or more biosensor-generated signals or other
device-detectable data. In light of teachings herein, numerous existing
techniques may be applied for implementing such modules 1154 of pattern
recognition logic 1150 or other components as described herein without
undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,402,381 ("Method of
immobilizing molecules onto a solid phase substrate and method of
fabricating a biosensor using the method"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,323,347
("Biosensor surface structures and methods"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,244,582
("Immobilized carbohydrate biosensor"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,223,330
("Biosensor, biosensor array and method for detecting macromolecular
biopolymers with a biosensor"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,176,345 ("Transgenic
animals expressing light-emitting fusion proteins and diagnostic and
therapeutic methods therefor"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,977,160 ("Sensor protein
and use thereof"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,960,466 ("Composite membrane
containing a cross-linked enzyme matrix for a biosensor"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,783,958 ("Method of producing a biosensor protein capable of regulating
a fluorescence property of green fluorescent protein, and the biosensor
protein produced by the method"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,376,257 ("Detection by
fret changes of ligand binding by GFP fusion proteins"); U.S. Pat. No.
5,965,713 ("Dye labeled protein conjugate its preparing method and sensor
using the same"). Some such variants, for example, may include one or
more protocol descriptors relating to a cell as described herein.
Alternatively or additionally, such modules may include media bearing one
or more resource addresses, invocation parameters, or other such values
2956, 2958 usable in a module 2454 of invocation logic 2455 as described
herein.

[0119]Some variants may include special-purpose modules 1155 of pattern
recognition logic 1150 or other circuitry for imaging and evaluating
cells or other attributes of tissue. In light of teachings herein,
numerous existing techniques may be applied writing or otherwise causing
media to bear optical wavelengths, scan area coordinates, or other such
values 2951, 2952 usable in laser scanning equipment 2890 as described
herein. Alternatively or additionally, such media may include one or more
dispenser identifiers or other values indicative of contrast agents,
pulse sequence or type descriptors, or other such values 2954, 2955
usable in MRI scanners 2402, ultrasound imaging equipment, or other such
devices. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,155,050 ("Method of analyzing cell
samples, by creating and analyzing a resultant image"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,129,473 ("Optical image pickup apparatus for imaging living body
tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,900,009 ("Method for creating a frozen tissue
array"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,893,837 ("Frozen tissue microarray technology
for analysis RNA, DNA, and proteins"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,811,766
("Ultrasound imaging with contrast agent targeted to microvasculature and
a vasodilator drug"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,544,794 ("Method for visual imaging
of ion distribution in tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,438 ("Neural network
for cell image analysis for identification of abnormal cells"); U.S. Pat.
No. 6,408,050 ("X-ray detector and method for tissue specific image");
U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,068 ("Non-invasive measurement of frozen tissue
temperature using MRI signal"); U.S. Pat. No. 5,854,851 ("System and
method for diagnosis of living tissue diseases using digital image
processing"); U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,648 ("Cell analysis method using
quantitative fluorescence image analysis"); U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,830
("Method for cryopreparing biological tissue for ultrastructural
analysis"). Some such variants, for example, may include one or more
protocols for treating, imaging, evaluating, and/or extracting cells that
are or will be frozen. Alternatively or additionally, such modules may
comprise or otherwise interact with images depicting cellular or other
features from electron microscopes 770, image recognition modules 1152,
fluorescence microscopes 2406, video microscopes 2408, or other
image-handling equipment as described herein.

[0120]Some variants may include one or more statistical evaluations or
other quantifications characterizing an image or other optical field of a
sensor, extraction, or other mode or region. In light of teachings
herein, numerous existing techniques may be applied for relating such
output from one or more modules 1622 of evaluation logic 1620 to such
attributes as described herein without undue experimentation. See, e.g.,
U.S. Pat. No. 7,416,531 ("System and method of detecting and processing
physiological sounds"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,397,545 ("Application of
statistical inference to optical time domain reflectometer data"); U.S.
Pat. No. 7,330,588 ("Image metrics in the statistical analysis of DNA
microarray data"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,3105,90 ("Time series anomaly
detection using multiple statistical models"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,248,921
("Method and devices for performing cardiac waveform appraisal"); U.S.
Pat. No. 7,190,394 ("Method for statistical analysis of images for
automatic white balance of color channel gains for image sensors"); U.S.
Pat. No. 7,155,050 ("Method of analyzing cell samples, by creating and
analyzing a resultant image"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,082,224 ("Statistic
calculating method using a template and corresponding sub-image to
determine similarity based on sum of squares thresholding"); U.S. Pat.
No. 7,016,786 ("Statistical methods for analyzing biological sequences");
U.S. Pat. No. 6,804,394 ("System for capturing and using expert's
knowledge for image processing"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,718,068 ("Noise
reduction method utilizing statistical weighting, apparatus, and program
for digital image processing"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,507,633 ("Method for
statistically reconstructing a polyenergetic X-ray computed tomography
image and image reconstructor apparatus utilizing the method"); U.S. Pat.
No. 6,161,089 ("Multi-subframe quantization of spectral parameters").
Alternatively or additionally, such modules may include or otherwise
interact with media 100, 1000 bearing one or more feature definitions,
ranges, shape types, or other such values 2955, 2958 usable in one or
more modules 1155 of image or other pattern recognition logic 1150 as
described herein.

[0121]In some variants, the above-described systems and methods may
incorporate or otherwise operate in conjunction with an adhesive or other
mode of fixation and/or extraction. One or more parametric values 2957,
2959 relating to such variants may determine or otherwise indicate one or
more of a contact time, an energy transfer rate, a ratio of ingredients,
a penetration or other engagement force, an agent or component selection,
an amount of tissue extracted, or other such quantities.

[0122]With reference now to FIG. 30, shown is a context in which one or
more technologies may be implemented. An extraction module 3000 may
include one or more permeabilizers 3071, stains 3072, buffers 3073,
fixatives 3074, or other components in compounds 3075 configured to treat
one or more samples 3080. Such samples or other extractions may include
one or more solid or semi-solid tissue components 3082, for example, as
well as (sputum, sap, interstitial fluid, cytoplasm, or other) fluid
components 3081. Alternatively or additionally, such extraction modules
may include one or more modules 3091, 3092, 3093, 3094, 3095, 3096, 3097,
3098, 3099 for controlling dispensations, extractions, evaluations, or
other such protocols as described below.

[0123]Some variants may include or otherwise interact with one or more
modules and/or protocols for configuring a frozen or other tissue sample
for shipment or long-term storage. In light of teachings herein, numerous
existing techniques may be applied for configuring one or more modules
2845 of control logic 2840 to implement such features as described herein
without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,371,513
("Method of preserving corneal tissue using
polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene copolymer"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,129,035
("Method of preserving tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,014,990 ("Machine
perfusion solution for organ and biological tissue preservation"); U.S.
Pat. No. 7,005,253 ("Cold storage solution for organ and biological
tissue preservation"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,994,954 ("System for organ and
tissue preservation and hypothermic blood substitution"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,946,241 ("Physiological medium for perfusing, preserving and storing
isolated cell, tissue and organ samples"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,942,961
("Method for dehydrating biological tissue for producing preserved
transplants"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,569,615 ("Composition and methods for
tissue preservation"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,492,103 ("System for organ and
tissue preservation and hypothermic blood substitution"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,270,986 ("Method of preserving biological tissue specimens and method
of infrared spectroscopic analysis which avoids the effects of
polymorphs"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,207,658 ("Preservation of tissue during
removal storage and implantation"); U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,096 ("Method and
package design for cryopreservation and storage of cultured tissue
equivalents"). Alternatively or additionally, such modules may comprise
or otherwise interact with pattern recognition logic 1150, evaluation
logic 2850, or other circuitry for processing data and/or samples 1112,
2062, 3080 as described herein.

[0124]Alternatively or additionally, some variants may implement protocols
for configuring a molecular probe or other biosensor to detect an effect,
pH, density, concentration, structure, constitution, or other attribute
of a fluid component 3081 or other form of matter. In light of teachings
herein, numerous existing techniques may be applied for implementing one
or more control modules 3094 for such functions as described herein
without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,396,687 ("Mass
spectrometric immunoassay analysis of specific proteins and variants
present in various biological fluids"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,359,743 ("System
for monitoring and calculating integrated tissue pH"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,359,548 ("Method and apparatus for automated image analysis of
biological specimens"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,323,347 ("Biosensor surface
structures and methods"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,319,046 ("Integrated
optoelectronic silicon biosensor for the detection of biomolecules
labeled with chromophore groups or nanoparticles"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,191,068 ("Proteomic analysis of biological fluids"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,112,433 ("Electrical analysis of biological membranes"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,033,321 ("Ultrasonic water content monitor and methods for monitoring
tissue hydration"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,979,728 ("Articles of manufacture and
methods for array based analysis of biological molecules"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,913,697 ("Nanostructured separation and analysis devices for biological
membranes"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,790,669 ("Method for chemical analysis of
biological material"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,600,941 ("Systems and methods of
pH tissue monitoring"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,479,019 ("Sensor and sensor
assembly for detecting a target gas in a breath sample"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,372,183 ("Automated analysis equipment and assay method for detecting
cell surface protein and/or cytoplasmic receptor function using same");
U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,713 ("Dye labeled protein conjugate its preparing
method and sensor using the same").

[0125]Alternatively or additionally, some variants may include
special-purpose modules or other circuitry for generating and/or
evaluating images, measurements, or other data from minimally invasive or
noninvasive protocols. In light of teachings herein, numerous existing
techniques may be applied for implementing such detection modules 3098 as
described herein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.
7,415,146 ("Method and apparatus to determine bone mineral density
utilizing a flat panel detector"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,415,139
("Living-tissue pattern detecting method, living-tissue pattern detecting
device, biometric authentication method, and biometric authentication
device"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,409,040 ("System and method for noninvasive
diagnostic imaging, detection, and identification of substances by
microwave/RF modulation of x-rays and applications in treatment of
diseases characterized by the presence of pathological macromolecules or
by the need for regeneration of normal tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,261,693
("Soft tissue diagnostic apparatus and method"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,133,717
("Tissue electroperforation for enhanced drug delivery and diagnostic
sampling"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,043,287 ("Method for modulating light
penetration depth in tissue and diagnostic applications using same");
U.S. Pat. No. 6,975,899 ("Multi-modal optical tissue diagnostic system");
U.S. Pat. No. 6,697,665 ("Systems and methods of molecular spectroscopy
to provide for the diagnosis of tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,510,338
("Method of and devices for fluorescence diagnosis of tissue,
particularly by endoscopy"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,507,748 ("Compression
apparatus for diagnostically examining breast tissue"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,505,079 ("Electrical stimulation of tissue for therapeutic and
diagnostic purposes"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,174,291 ("Optical biopsy system
and methods for tissue diagnosis"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,511 ("Device and
evaluation procedure for the depth-selective, noninvasive detection of
the blood flow and/or intra and/or extra-corporeally flowing liquids in
biological tissue").

[0126]Alternatively or additionally, some such variants, for example, may
include frozen or other superficial extractions as described herein.
Alternatively or additionally, such modules may comprise or otherwise
interact with probes configured to transmit a signal arising from a
hybridization protocol or other mode of analyzing cells or other
structures.

[0127]Alternatively or additionally, some variants may include
software-controlled or other special-purpose circuitry for controlling a
dispenser or otherwise causing a chemical or other treatment in vivo. In
light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may be applied
for implementing such control modules 3091 as described herein without
undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,371,744 ("Biologically
active methylene blue derivatives"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,270,661
("Electrosurgical apparatus and methods for treatment and removal of
tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,157,080 ("Injectable hyaluronic acid derivative
with pharmaceuticals/cells"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,975,899 ("Multi-modal
optical tissue diagnostic system"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,905,475 ("Method of
injecting a drug and echogenic bubbles into prostate tissue"); U.S. Pat.
No. 6,830,743 ("In Vivo stain compounds and methods of use to identify
dysplastic tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,699,294 ("Injectable implants for
tissue augmentation and restoration"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,591,129 ("Method
for treating tissue through injection of a therapeutic agent"); U.S. Pat.
No. 6,586,407 ("Injectable pharmaceutical formulations for partricin
derivatives"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,372,451 ("Histochemical labeling stain for
myelin in brain tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,368,637 ("Method and
composition for topical treatment of viral lesions"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,296,608 ("Diagnosing and performing interventional procedures on tissue
in vivo"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,083,487 ("Methylene blue and toluidene blue
mediated fluorescence diagnosis of cancer"); U.S. Pat. No. 5,854,240
("Methylene blue for the treatment or prophylaxis of encephalopathy
caused by ifosfamide"); U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,217 ("Process and apparatus
for harvesting tissue for processing tissue and process and apparatus for
re-injecting processed tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,772 ("Method for
classifying and counting leukocytes"); U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,665
("Phototherapy using methylene blue").

[0128]Alternatively or additionally, some variants may include or
otherwise interact with one or more extraction modules and/or protocols
for preserving at least some structural aspects of a tissue sample 3080
or other specimen. In light of teachings herein, numerous existing
techniques may be applied for configuring software-implemented or other
control modules 3092 or other components to implement such features as
described herein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.
7,371,513 ("Method of preserving corneal tissue using
polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene copolymer"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,229,820
("Apparatus and method for culturing and preserving tissue constructs");
U.S. Pat. No. 7,129,035 ("Method of preserving tissue"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,056,673 ("Preservation of RNA in a biological sample"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,014,990 ("Machine perfusion solution for organ and biological tissue
preservation"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,005,253 ("Cold storage solution for organ
and biological tissue preservation"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,962,774 ("Method
for dry-preserving multicellular organism tissue at ordinary
temperatures"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,946,241 ("Physiological medium for
perfusing, preserving and storing isolated cell, tissue and organ
samples"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,942,961 ("Method for dehydrating biological
tissue for producing preserved transplants"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,881,543
("Sampling and storage system for genetic material from tissue"); U.S.
Pat. No. 6,746,711 ("Polymers with biocidal action, process for their
preparation and their use"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,013 ("Method of quickly
drying a fresh sample and method of preserving a dried body"); U.S. Pat.
No. 6,458,762 ("Therapeutic use of hemoglobin for preserving tissue
viability and reducing restenosis"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,228 ("Method for
preserving core sample integrity"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,986 ("Method of
preserving biological tissue specimens and method of infrared
spectroscopic analysis which avoids the effects of polymorphs"); U.S.
Pat. No. 6,207,658 ("Preservation of tissue during removal storage and
implantation"); U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,692 ("Device for taking, preserving
and transporting a fluid sample for analysis").

[0129]Alternatively or additionally, some variants may include or
otherwise interact with one or more extraction modules and/or protocols
for drawing or otherwise manipulating a component of an organism's
tissue. In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may be
applied for configuring software-implemented or other control modules
3093 or other components to implement such features as described herein
without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,405,056
("Tissue punch and tissue sample labeling methods and devices for
microarray preparation, archiving and documentation"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,357,081 ("Safety and arming unit for a spinning projectile fuze"); U.S.
Pat. No. 7,329,227 ("Forward-fired automatic tissue sampling apparatus
with safety lock"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,270,661 ("Electrosurgical apparatus
and methods for treatment and removal of tissue"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,241,874 ("Rapid isolation of osteoinductive protein mixtures from
mammalian bone tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,232,414 ("System and method for
capturing body tissue samples"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,087,028 ("Method and
apparatus for sampling cervical tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,008,381
("Device for taking a tissue sample"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,860 ("Tissue
sampling and removal apparatus and method"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,575
("Surgical vacuum instrument for retracting, extracting, and manipulating
tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,902 ("Ultrasound probe with a detachable
needle guide, for collecting tissue samples"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,083,169
("Method and an apparatus for the insertion of a needle guide into a
patient in order to remove tissue samples").

[0131]Alternatively or additionally, some variants may include
software-controlled or other special-purpose circuitry for controlling an
emitter 531, 1642 in vitro or otherwise administering a treatment with an
optical component. In light of teachings herein, numerous existing
techniques may be applied for implementing such control modules 3096 as
described herein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.
7,411,672 ("Method and apparatus for chemical imaging in a microfluidic
circuit"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,351,252 ("Method and apparatus for
photothermal treatment of tissue at depth"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,328,060
("Cancer detection and adaptive dose optimization treatment system");
U.S. Pat. No. 7,288,106 ("System and method for excitation of
photoreactive compounds in eye tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,252,815
("Pathological tissue detection and treatment employing targeted
benzoindole optical agents"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,220,256 ("Laser system and
method for treatment of biological tissues"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,201,767
("Device for ultraviolet radiation treatment of body tissues"); U.S. Pat.
No. 6,394,964 ("Optical forceps system and method of diagnosing and
treating tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,807 ("Medical treatment of deeply
seated tissue using optical radiation").

[0132]Alternatively or additionally, some variants may include
special-purpose circuitry for implementing various modes of imaging
suitable for surgical applications. In light of teachings herein,
numerous existing techniques may be applied for implementing such modules
3097 as described herein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S.
Pat. No. 7,130,676 ("Fluoroscopic image guided orthopaedic surgery system
with intraoperative registration"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,072,704 ("System for
indicating the position of a surgical probe within a head on an image of
the head"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,259 ("Surgical system supported by
optical coherence tomography"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,714,729 ("Automatic
motion-controlled photographing apparatus and related photographing
method"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,584,339 ("Method and apparatus for collecting
and processing physical space data for use while performing image-guided
surgery"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,301,495 ("System and method for
intra-operative, image-based, interactive verification of a pre-operative
surgical plan"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,267 ("Endoscopic or fiberscopic
imaging device using infrared fluorescence"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,446
("Continuous lengths of oxide superconductors"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,314
("Optical coherence tomography assisted surgical apparatus").
Alternatively or additionally, such variants may include media bearing
one or more recording durations, magnifications, or other such values
2951, 2953 usable in a video microscope 2408 as described herein.

[0133]Alternatively or additionally, some variants may include
special-purpose circuitry for controlling, configuring, enabling,
triggering, or otherwise facilitating extractions or other manipulations
of tissue. In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may
be applied for implementing such modules 3099 as described herein (in an
extraction module 3000, e.g.) without undue experimentation. See, e.g.,
U.S. Pat. No. 7,329,227 ("Forward-fired automatic tissue sampling
apparatus with safety lock"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,232,414 ("System and method
for capturing body tissue samples"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,156,814 ("Apparatus
and method for harvesting and handling tissue samples for biopsy
analysis"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,133,717 ("Tissue electroperforation for
enhanced drug delivery and diagnostic sampling"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,041,114
("Surgical tool and method for extracting tissue from wall of an organ");
U.S. Pat. No. 7,008,381 ("Device for taking a tissue sample"); U.S. Pat.
No. 6,928,139 ("Method and device for sampling tissue during a
radiological examination"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,695,791 ("System and method
for capturing body tissue samples"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,575 ("Surgical
vacuum instrument for retracting, extracting, and manipulating tissue");
U.S. Pat. No. 6,509,187 ("Method and device for collection and
preparation of tissue samples for molecular genetic diagnostics"); U.S.
Pat. No. 6,443,902 ("Ultrasound probe with a detachable needle guide, for
collecting tissue samples"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,432,111 ("Device for
extraction of tissue or the like"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,861
("Pneumatically actuated tissue sampling device"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,152,932 ("Device for extraction of tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,658
("Cervical tissue sampling device and method"); U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,399
("Automated tissue sampling device"); U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,313
("Laparoscopic tissue compressor and extractor"). Some such variants, for
example, may include media bearing one or more identifiers 2912 or other
components 2913, protocol descriptors, or other such values 2951, 2954
usable in a syringe, probe, biopsy device, or other extraction module
660, 850, 3000 as described herein. Alternatively or additionally, such
media may indicate one or more speeds, thicknesses, or other such values
2955, 2957 usable, for example, in microtomes 2884, tissue sampling
devices, or other surgical instruments.

[0135]With reference now to FIG. 31, shown is an example of a system that
may serve as a context for introducing one or more processes, systems or
other articles described herein. Primary system 3100 may include one or
more-instances of implementations 3101, 3103, 3105 or outputs 3102, 3104,
3106 that may be held or transmitted by interfaces 3130, conduits 3142,
storage devices 3143, memories 3148, or other holding devices 3149 or the
like. In various embodiments as described herein, for example, one or
more instances of implementation components 3111, 3112, 3113, 3114, 3115,
3116, 3117, 3118 or implementation output data 3121, 3122, 3123, 3124,
3125, 3126, 3127, 3128 may each be expressed in any aspect or combination
of software, firmware, or hardware as signals, data, designs, logic,
instructions, or the like. The interface(s) 3130 may include one or more
instances of lenses 3131, transmitters 3132, receivers 3133, integrated
circuits 3134, antennas 3135, output devices 3136, reflectors 3137, input
devices 3138, or the like for handling data or communicating with local
users or with network 3190 via linkage 3150, for example. Several
variants of primary system 3100 are described below with reference to one
or more instances of repeaters 3191, communication satellites 3193,
servers 3194, processors 3195, routers 3197, or other elements of network
3190.

[0136]Those skilled in the art will recognize that some list items may
also function as other list items. In the above-listed types of media,
for example, some instances of interface(s) 3130 may include conduits
3142, or may also function as storage devices that are also holding
devices 3149. One or more transmitters 3132 may likewise include input
devices or bidirectional user interfaces, in many implementations of
interface(s) 3130. Each such listed term should not be narrowed by any
implication from other terms in the same list but should instead be
understood in its broadest reasonable interpretation as understood by
those skilled in the art.

[0137]Several variants described herein refer to device-detectable
"implementations" such as one or more instances of computer-readable
code, transistor or latch connectivity layouts or other geometric
expressions of logical elements, firmware or software expressions of
transfer functions implementing computational specifications, digital
expressions of truth tables, or the like. Such instances can, in some
implementations, include source code or other human-readable portions.
Alternatively or additionally, functions of implementations described
herein may constitute one or more device-detectable outputs such as
decisions, manifestations, side effects, results, coding or other
expressions, displayable images, data files, data associations,
statistical correlations, streaming signals, intensity levels,
frequencies or other measurable attributes, packets or other encoded
expressions, or the like from invoking or monitoring the implementation
as described herein.

[0138]Referring again to FIG. 25, flow 2500 may be performed by one or
more instances of server 3194 remote from primary system 3100, for
example, but operable to cause output device(s) 3136 to receive and
present results via linkage 3150. Alternatively or additionally,
device-detectable data 3122 may be borne by one or more instances of
signal-bearing conduits 3142, holding devices 3149, integrated circuits
3134, or the like as described herein. Such data may optionally be
configured for transmission by a semiconductor chip or other embodiment
of integrated circuit 3134 that contains or is otherwise operatively
coupled with antenna 3135 (in a radio-frequency identification tag, for
example).

[0139]In some variants, some instances of flow 2500 may be implemented
entirely within primary system 3100, optionally configured as a
stand-alone system. Operation 2560 may be implemented by configuring one
or more components 3111, 3112 as logic for obtaining device-detectable
data indicating an extraction of chemically treated tissue frozen in
vivo, for example. This can be accomplished by including special-purpose
instruction sequences or special-purpose-circuit designs for this
function, for example, in optical or other known circuit fabrication
operations, in programming by various known voltage modulation
techniques, or otherwise as described herein or known by those skilled in
the art. Output data 3121, 3122 from such a component in primary system
3100 or network 3190 may be recorded by writing to or otherwise
configuring available portions of storage device(s) 3143.

[0140]Alternatively or additionally, such specific output data may be
transmitted by configuring transistors, relays, or other drivers or
conduits 3142 of primary system 3100 to transfer it to component 3113,
for example. Component 3112 may perform operation 2520 via implementation
as logic for generating at least some of the device-detectable data, for
example. Implementation output data 3122 from such a component in primary
system 3100 or network 3190 may be recorded into available portions of
storage device(s) 3143 or sent to component 3113, for example. Component
3113 may perform operation 2580 via implementation as logic for
transmitting an evaluation of the device-detectable data. Output 3102
from flow 2500 may likewise include other data 3123 as described herein.
Each portion of implementation 3103 may likewise include one or more
instances of software, hardware, or the like implementing logic that may
be expressed in several respective forms as described herein or otherwise
understood by those skilled in the art.

[0141]Referring again to FIG. 26, some instance of flow 2600 may be
implemented entirely within primary system 3100. Operation 2640 may be
implemented by configuring one or more components 3114, 3115 as logic for
obtaining device-detectable data indicating a treatment of a tissue
sample in a chamber extended into tissue of an organism, for example,
such as by including special-purpose instruction sequences or
special-purpose-circuit designs for this function. Output data 3124, 3125
from such a component in primary system 3100 or network 3190 may be
recorded into available portions of storage device(s) 3143 or sent to
component 3116, for example. Component 3115 may perform operation 2630
via implementation as logic for generating at least some of the
device-detectable data, for example. Implementation output data 3125 from
such a component in primary system 3100 or network 3190 may be recorded
into available portions of storage device(s) 3143 or sent to component
3116, for example. Component 3116 may perform operation 2670 via
implementation as logic for transmitting an evaluation of the
device-detectable data. Output 3104 from flow 2600 may likewise include
other data 3126 as described herein. Each portion of implementation 3103
may likewise include one or more instances of software, hardware, or the
like implementing logic that may be expressed in several respective forms
as described herein or otherwise understood by those skilled in the art.

[0142]Referring again to FIG. 27, some instance of flow 2700 may be
implemented entirely within primary system 3100. Operation 2750 may be
implemented by configuring one or more components 3117, 3118 as logic for
obtaining device-detectable data indicating a treatment of a tissue
sample in a chamber extended into tissue of an organism, for example,
such as by including special-purpose instruction sequences or
special-purpose-circuit designs for this function. Output data 3127 from
such a component in primary system 3100 or network 3190 may be recorded
into available portions of storage device(s) 3143 or sent to component
3118, for example. Component 3117 may perform operation 2750 via
implementation as logic for generating at least some of the
device-detectable data, for example. Implementation output data 3127 from
such a component in primary system 3100 or network 3190 may be recorded
into available portions of storage device(s) 3143 or sent to component
3118, for example. Component 3116 may perform operation 2770 via
implementation as logic for transmitting an evaluation of the
device-detectable data. Output 3104 from flow 2700 may likewise include
other data 3128 as described herein. Each portion of implementation 3103
may likewise include one or more instances of software, hardware, or the
like implementing logic that may be expressed in several respective forms
as described herein or otherwise understood by those skilled in the art.

[0143]In some embodiments, output device 3136 may indicate an occurrence
of flow 2500 concisely as a decision, an evaluation, an effect, an
hypothesis, a probability, a notification, or some other useful technical
result. For example, such "indicating" may comprise such modes as
showing, signifying, acknowledging, updating, explaining, associating, or
the like in relation to any past or ongoing performance of such actions
upon the common item(s) as recited. Such indicating may also provide one
or more specifics about the occurrence: the parties or device(s)
involved, a description of the method or performance modes used, any
sequencing or other temporal aspects involved, indications of resources
used, location(s) of the occurrence, implementation version indications
or other update-indicative information, or any other such contextual
information that may be worthwhile to provide at potential output
destinations.

[0144]Concise indication may occur, for example, in a context in which at
least some items of data 3121-3128 do not matter, or in which a recipient
may understand or access portions of data 3121-3128 without receiving a
preemptive explanation of how it was obtained. By distilling at least
some output 3102, 3104, 3106 at an "upstream" stage (which may comprise
integrated circuit 3134, for example, in some arrangements),
downstream-stage media (such as other elements of network 3190, for
example) may indicate occurrences of various methods described herein
more effectively. Variants of flow 2500, for example, may be enhanced by
distillations described herein, especially in bandwidth-limited
transmissions, security-encoded messages, long-distance transmissions,
complex images, or compositions of matter bearing other such expressions.

[0145]In some variants, a local implementation comprises a service
operable for accessing a remote system running a remote implementation.
In some embodiments, such "accessing" may include one or more instances
of establishing or permitting an interaction between the server and a
local embodiment such that the local embodiment causes or uses another
implementation or output of one or more herein-described functions at the
server. Functioning as a web browser, remote terminal session, or other
remote activation or control device, for example, interface(s) 3130 may
interact with one or more primary system users via input and output
devices 3136, 3138 so as to manifest an implementation in primary system
3100 via an interaction with server 3194, for example, running a
secondary implementation of flow 2500. Such local implementations may
comprise a visual display supporting a local internet service to the
remote server, for example. Such a remote server may control or otherwise
enable one or more instances of hardware or software operating the
secondary implementation outside a system, network, or physical proximity
of primary system 3100. For a building implementing primary system 3100,
for example, "remote" devices may include those in other countries, in
orbit, or in adjacent buildings. In some embodiments, "running an
implementation" may include invoking one or more instances of software,
hardware, firmware, or the like atypically constituted or adapted to
facilitate methods or functions as described herein. For example, primary
system 3100 running an implementation of flow 2500 may be a remote
activation of a special-purpose computer program resident on server 3194
via an internet browser session interaction through linkage 3150,
mediated by input device 3138 and output device 3136.

[0146]In some variants, some or all of components 3111-3118 may be borne
in various data-handling elements--e.g., in one or more instances of
storage devices 3143, in memories 3148 or volatile media, passing through
linkage 3150 with network 3190 or other conduits 3142, in one or more
registers or data-holding devices 3149, or the like. For example, such
processing or configuration may occur in response to user data or the
like received at input device 3138 or may be presented at output device
3136. Instances of input devices 3138 may (optionally) include one or
more instances of cameras or other optical devices, hand-held systems or
other portable systems, keypads, sensors, or the like as described
herein. Output device(s) 3136 may likewise include one or more instances
of image projection modules, touch screens, wrist-wearable systems or the
like adapted to be worn while in use, headphones and speakers, eyewear,
liquid crystal displays (LCDs), actuators, lasers, organic or other
light-emitting diodes, phosphorescent elements, portions of (hybrid)
input devices 3138, or the like.

[0147]A device-detectable implementation of variants described herein with
reference to flows 2500, 2600, 2700, for example, may be divided into
several components 3111-3118 carried by one or more instances of active
modules such as signal repeaters 3191, communication satellites 3193,
servers 3194, processors 3195, routers 3197, or the like. For example, in
some embodiments, component 3112 may be borne by an "upstream" module
(e.g., repeater 3191 or the like) while or after component 3111 is borne
in a "downstream" module (e.g., another instance of repeater 3191,
communication satellite 3193, server 3194, or the like). Such downstream
modules may "accept" such bits or other portions of implementation 3103
or implementation 3101 sequentially, for example, such as by amplifying,
relaying, storing, checking, or otherwise processing what was received
actively. Sensors and other "upstream" modules may likewise "accept" raw
data, such as by measuring physical phenomena or accessing one or more
databases.

[0148]An embodiment provides an instrument 1110 having at least (a) a
chamber 551, 1748, 2155 or other cavity in which one or more sample
treatment protocols 443, 2083 may be applied to a tissue sample 1112,
2062 and (b) sensors, transmitters 3132, invocation logic 2455, or other
such output modules configured to transmit one or more measurements 1661,
images 1662, records 1690, or other results 192 of such treatment. In
some variants, for example, the instrument may include or otherwise
interact with a treatment module 890 configured to apply one or more
fixatives 3074, optical treatments, marking agents 2165 or other
compounds 3075, or other such treatments.

[0149]Another embodiment provides a probe 210, 1510, 1610 having one or
more separable extraction modules 660, 3000 or other probe portions 2272
(positionable in a digital microscope 2270 or other such equipment,
e.g.). The embodiment further provides a buffer-containing or other
compound 3075 (in a dispenser having access to a sample 3080, for
example) for treating an extraction 1555, 2452 in the module(s), and (c)
one or more instances of interface logic 1290, sensors 1644, invocation
logic 2455, transmitters 3132, or other output modules configured to
transmit one or more measurements 1661, images 1662, records 1690, or
other results 192 of such treatment from the probe.

[0150]In some embodiments, a medium bearing data (or other such event) may
be "caused" (directly or indirectly) by one or more instances of prior or
contemporaneous measurements, decisions, transitions, circumstances, or
other causal determinants. Any such event may likewise depend upon one or
more other prior, contemporaneous, or potential determinants, in various
implementations as taught herein. In other words, such events may occur
"in response" to both preparatory (earlier) events and triggering
(contemporaneous) events in some contexts. Output 3102 may result from
more than one component of implementations 3101, 3103 or more than one
operation of flow 2500, for example.

[0151]In some embodiments, such integrated circuits 3134 may comprise
transistors, capacitors, amplifiers, latches, converters, or the like on
a common substrate of a semiconductor material, operable to perform
computational tasks or other transformations. An integrated circuit may
be application-specific ("ASIC") in that it is designed for a particular
use rather than for general purpose use. An integrated circuit may
likewise include one or more instances of memory circuits, processors,
field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA's), antennas, or other components,
and may be referred to as a system-on-a-chip ("SoC").

[0152]In some embodiments, one or more instances of integrated circuits or
other processors may be configured to perform auditory pattern
recognition. In FIG. 31, for example, instances of the one or more input
devices 3138 may include a microphone or the like operable to provide
auditory samples in data 3121-3128. Some form or portion of such output
may be provided remotely, for example, to one or more instances of neural
networks or other configurations of remote processors 3195 operable to
perform automatic or supervised speech recognition, selective auditory
data retention or transmission, or other auditory pattern recognition,
upon the samples. Alternatively or additionally such sound-related data
may include annotative information relating thereto such as a capture
time or other temporal indications, capture location or other source
information, language or other content indications, decibels or other
measured quantities, pointers to related data items or other associative
indications, or other data aggregations or distillations as described
herein.

[0153]In some embodiments, one or more instances of integrated circuits or
other processors may be configured for optical image pattern recognition.
In FIG. 31, for example, instances of lenses 3131 or other input devices
3138 may include optical sensors or the like operable to provide one or
more of geometric, hue, or optical intensity information in data
3121-3128. Some form or portion of such output may be provided locally,
for example, to one or more instances of optical character recognition
software, pattern recognition processing resources, or other
configurations of integrated circuits 3134 operable to perform automatic
or supervised image recognition, selective optical data retention or
transmission, or the like. Alternatively or additionally such
image-related data may include annotative information relating thereto
such as a capture time or other temporal indications, capture location or
other source information, language or other content indications, pointers
to related data items or other associative indications, or other data
aggregations or distillations as described herein.

[0154]In some embodiments, one or more instances of integrated circuits or
other processors may be configured to perform linguistic pattern
recognition. In FIG. 31, for example, instances of input devices 3138 may
include keys, pointing devices, microphones, sensors, reference data, or
the like operable to provide spoken, written, or other symbolic
expressions in data 3121-3128. Some form or portion of such output may be
provided locally, for example, to one or more instances of translation
utilities, compilers, or other configurations of integrated circuits 3134
operable to perform automatic or supervised programming or other language
recognition, selective linguistic data retention or transmission, or the
like. Alternatively or additionally such language-related data may
include annotative information relating thereto such as a capture time or
other temporal indications, capture location or other source information,
language or other content indications, pointers to related data items or
other associative indications, or other data classifications,
aggregations, or distillations as described herein.

[0155]In some embodiments, one or more antennas 3135 or receivers 3133 may
include a device that is the receiving end of a communication channel as
described herein. For example, such a receiver may gather a signal from a
dedicated conduit or from the environment for subsequent processing
and/or retransmission. As a further example, such antennas or other
receivers may include one or more instances of wireless antennas, radio
antennas, satellite antennas, broadband receivers, digital subscriber
line (DSL) receivers, modem receivers, transceivers, or configurations of
two or more such devices for data reception as described herein or
otherwise known.

[0156]In one variant, two or more respective portions of output data
3121-3128 may be sent from server 3194 through respective channels at
various times, one portion passing through repeater 3191 and another
through router 3197. Such channels may each bear a respective portion of
a data aggregation or extraction, a publication, a comparative analysis
or decision, a record selection, digital subscriber content, statistics
or other research information, a resource status or potential allocation,
an evaluation,. an opportunity indication, a test or computational
result, or some other output 3102, 3104, 3106 of possible interest. Such
distributed media may be implemented as an expedient or efficient mode of
bearing such portions of output data to a common destination such as
interface 3130 or holding device 3149. Alternatively or additionally,
some such data may be transported by moving a medium (carried on storage
device 3143, for example) so that only a small portion (a purchase or
other access authorization, for example, or a contingent or supplemental
module) is transferred via linkage 3150.

[0157]In some embodiments, one or more instances of signal repeaters 3191
may include a device or functional implementation that receives a signal
and transmits some or all of the signal with one or more of an altered
strength or frequency, or with other modulation (e.g., an
optical-electrical-optical amplification device, a radio signal amplifier
or format converter, a wireless signal amplifier, or the like). A
repeater may convert analog to digital signals or digital to analog
signals, for example, or perform no conversion. Alternatively or
additionally, a repeater may reshape, retime or otherwise reorder an
output for transmission. A repeater may likewise introduce a frequency
offset to an output signal such that the received and transmitted
frequencies are different. A repeater also may include one or more
instances of a relay, a translator, a transponder, a transceiver, an
active hub, a booster, a noise-attenuating filter, or the like.

[0158]In some embodiments, such communication satellite(s) 3193 may be
configured to facilitate telecommunications while in a geosynchronous
orbit, a Molniya orbit, a low earth orbit, or the like. Alternatively or
additionally, a communication satellite may receive or transmit, for
example, telephony signals, television signals, radio signals, broadband
telecommunications signals, or the like.

[0159]In some variants, processor 3195 or any components 3111-3118 of
implementations 3103, 3101 may (optionally) be configured to perform flow
variants as described herein with reference to FIGS. 25-27. An occurrence
of such a variant can be expressed as a computation, a transition, or as
one or more other items of data 3121-3128 described herein. Such output
3104,2802 can be generated, for example, by depicted components of
primary system 3100 or network 3190 including one or more features as
described with reference to FIGS. 1-24.

[0160]Some variants may include special-purpose circuitry for implementing
a spectroscopic analysis protocol. In light of teachings herein, numerous
existing techniques may be applied for implementing such modules 2855 of
evaluation logic 2850 as described herein without undue experimentation.
See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,411,396 ("Method and system of magnetic
resonance spectroscopy with volume element dissection"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,356,364 ("Device for optical monitoring of constituent in tissue or
body fluid sample using wavelength modulation spectroscopy, such as for
blood glucose levels"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,149,567 ("Near-infrared
spectroscopic tissue imaging for medical applications"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,697,665 ("Systems and methods of molecular spectroscopy to provide for
the diagnosis of tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,697,652 ("Fluorescence,
reflectance and light scattering spectroscopy for measuring tissue");
U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,966 ("Methods of molecular spectroscopy to provide
for the diagnosis of tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,133 ("Methods and
apparatus for obtaining enhanced spectroscopic information from living
tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,671,540 ("Methods and systems for detecting
abnormal tissue using spectroscopic techniques"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,642,059
("Method for the comparative quantitative analysis of proteins and other
biological material by isotopic labeling and mass spectroscopy"); U.S.
Pat. No. 6,324,418 ("Portable tissue spectroscopy apparatus and method");
U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,230 ("Tissue modulation process for quantitative
noninvasive in vivo spectroscopic analysis of tissues"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,157,856 ("Tissue diagnostics using evanescent spectroscopy"); U.S. Pat.
No. 6,095,982 ("Spectroscopic method and apparatus for optically
detecting abnormal mammalian epithelial tissue"). Alternatively or
additionally, such modules may comprise or otherwise interact with
conduits 3142 or other media 100, 1000 bearing an operational setting
value 2453 usable in mass spectroscopes 2065, imaging systems, or other
such equipment for analyzing solid or other samples 1112, 2062, 3080 as
described herein.

[0161]With reference now to FIG. 32, shown is an example of another system
that may serve as a context for introducing one or more processes,
systems or other articles described herein. As shown system 3200
comprises one or more instances of writers 3201, processors 3203,
controls 3205, software or other implementations 3207, invokers 3212,
compilers 3214, outputs 3216, coding modules 3218, or the like with one
or more media 3290 bearing expressions or outputs thereof. In some
embodiments, such media may include distributed media bearing a divided
or otherwise distributed implementation or output. For example, in some
embodiments, such media may include two or more physically distinct
solid-state memories, two or more transmission media, a combination of
such transmission media with one or more data-holding media configured as
a data source or destination, or the like.

[0162]In some embodiments, transmission media may be "configured" to bear
an output or implementation (a) by causing a channel in a medium to
convey a portion thereof or (b) by constituting, adapting, addressing, or
otherwise linking to such media in some other mode that depends upon one
or more atypical traits of the partial or whole output or implementation.
Data-holding elements of media may likewise be "configured" to bear an
output or implementation portion (a) by holding the portion in a storage
or memory location or (b) by constituting, adapting, addressing, or
otherwise linking to such media in some other mode that depends upon one
or more atypical traits of the partial or whole output or implementation.
Such atypical traits may include a name, address, portion identifier
2911, functional description, or the like sufficient to distinguish the
output, implementation, or portion from a generic object.

[0163]In some embodiments described herein, "logic" and similar
implementations can include software or other control structures operable
to guide device operation. Electronic circuitry, for example, can
manifest one or more paths of electrical current constructed and arranged
to implement various logic functions as described herein. In some
embodiments, one or more media are "configured to bear" a
device-detectable implementation if such media hold or transmit a
special-purpose device instruction set operable to perform a novel method
as described herein. Alternatively or additionally, in some variants, an
implementation may include special-purpose hardware or firmware
components or general-purpose components executing or otherwise invoking
special-purpose components. Specifications or other implementations may
be transmitted by one or more instances of transmission media as
described herein, optionally by packet transmission or otherwise by
passing through distributed media at various times.

[0164]In some embodiments, one or more of the coding modules 3218 may be
configured with circuitry for applying, imposing, or otherwise using a
syntactic or other encoding constraint in forming, extracting, or
otherwise handling respective portions of the device-detectable
implementation or output. In encoding a software module or other message
content, for example, compiler 3214 or coding module 3218 may implement
one or more such constraints pursuant to public key or other encryption,
applying error correction modes, certifying or otherwise annotating the
message content, or implementing other security practices described
herein or known by those skilled in the art. Alternatively or
additionally, another instance of coding module 3218 may be configured to
receive data (via receiver 3133, e.g.) and decode or otherwise distill
the received data using one or more such encoding constraints. Compiler
3214 may, in some variants, convert one or more of components 3111-3118
from a corresponding source code form before the component(s) are
transmitted across linkage 3150.

[0165]System 3200 may be implemented, for example, as one or more
instances of stand-alone workstations, servers, vehicles, portable
devices, removable media 3220, as components of primary system 3100 or
network 3190 (of FIG. 31), or the like. Alternatively or additionally,
media 3290 may include one or more instances of signal repeaters 3191,
communication satellites 3193, servers 3194, processors 3195, routers
3197, portions of primary system 3100 as shown, or the like.

[0166]Media 3290 may include one or more instances of removable media
3220, tapes or other storage media 3226; parallel (transmission) media
3230; disks 3244; memories 3246; other data-handling media 3250; serial
media 3260; interfaces 3270; or expressions 3289, 3299. Removable media
3220 can bear one or more device-detectable instances of instruction
sequences 3222 or other implementations of flow 2500 or flow 2600, for
example. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, removable
media 3220 can bear alphanumeric data, audio data, image data,
structure-descriptive values, or other content 3224 in a context that
indicates an occurrence of one or more flows 2500, 2600, 2700. In some
circumstances, transmission media may bear respective portions of
implementations as described herein serially or otherwise
non-simultaneously. In some variants in which two portions 3297, 3298
constitute a partial or complete software implementation or product of a
novel method described herein, portion 3297 may follow portion 3298
successively through serial media 3263, 3265, 3267 (with transmission of
portion 3297 partly overlapping in time with transmission of portion 3298
passing through medium 3263, for example). As shown, parallel channels
3231, 3232 are respectively implemented at least in media 3237, 3238 of a
bus or otherwise effectively in isolation from one another. In some
embodiments, a bus may be a system of two or more signal paths--not
unified by a nominally ideal conduction path between them--configured to
transfer data between or among internal or external computer components.
For example, one data channel may include a power line (e.g., as medium
3265) operable for transmitting content of the device-detectable
implementation as described herein between two taps or other terminals
(e.g., as media 3263, 3267 comprising a source and destination). In
another such configuration, one or more media 3237 of channel 3231 may
bear portion 3297 before, while or after one or more other media 3238 of
parallel channel 3232 bear portion 3298. In some embodiments, such a
process may occur "while" another process occurs if they coincide or
otherwise overlap in time substantially (by several clock cycles, for
example). In some embodiments, such a process may occur "after" an event
if any instance of the process begins after any instance of the event
concludes, irrespective of other instances overlapping or the like.

[0167]In a variant in which a channel through medium 3250 bears an
expression 3255 partially implementing an operational flow described
herein, the remainder of the implementation may be borne (earlier or
later, in some instances) by the same medium 3250 or by one or more other
portions of media 3290 as shown. In some embodiments, moreover, one or
more controls 3205 may configure at least some media 3290 by triggering
transmissions as described above or transmissions of one or more outputs
3216 thereof.

[0168]In some embodiments, the one or more "physical media" may include
one or more instances of conduits, layers, networks, static storage
compositions, or other homogenous or polymorphic structures or
compositions suitable for bearing signals. In some embodiments, such a
"communication channel" in physical media may include a signal path
between two transceivers or the like. A "remainder" of the media may
include other signal paths intersecting the communication channel or
other media as described herein. In some variants, another exemplary
system comprises one or more physical media 3290 constructed and arranged
to receive a special-purpose sequence 3282 of two or more
device-detectable instructions 3284 for implementing a flow as described
herein or to receive an output of executing such instructions. Physical
media 3290 may (optionally) be configured by writer 3201, transmitter
3132, or the like.

[0169]In some embodiments, such a "special-purpose" instruction sequence
may include any ordered set of two or more instructions directly or
indirectly operable for causing multi-purpose hardware or software to
perform one or more methods or functions described herein: source code,
macro code, controller or other machine code, or the like. In some
embodiments, an implementation may include one or more instances of
special-purpose sequences 3282 of instructions 3284, patches or other
implementation updates 3288, configurations 3294, special-purpose circuit
designs 3293, or the like. Such "designs," for example, may include one
or more instances of a mask set definition, a connectivity layout of one
or more gates or other logic elements, an application-specific integrated
circuit (ASIC), a multivariate transfer function, or the like.

[0170]Segments of such implementations or their outputs may (optionally)
be manifested one or more information-bearing static attributes
comprising the device-detectable implementation. Such attributes may, in
some embodiments, comprise a concentration or other layout attribute of
magnetic or charge-bearing elements, visible or other optical elements,
or other particles in or on a liquid crystal display or other
solid-containing medium. Solid state data storage modules or other such
static media may further comprise one or more instances of laser
markings, barcodes, human-readable identifiers, or the like, such as to
indicate one or more attributes of the device-detectable implementation.
Alternatively or additionally such solid state or other solid-containing
media may include one or more instances of semiconductor devices or other
circuitry, magnetic or optical digital storage disks, dynamic or flash
random access memories (RAMs), or the like. Magnetoresistive RAMs may
bear larger implementation or output portions or aggregations safely and
efficiently, moreover, and without any need for motors or the like for
positioning the storage medium.

[0171]Segments of such implementations or their outputs may likewise be
manifested in electromagnetic signals 3286, laser or other optical
signals 3291, electrical signals 3292, or the like. In some embodiments,
for example, such electrical or electromagnetic signals may include one
or more instances of static or variable voltage levels or other analog
values, radio frequency transmissions or the like. In some embodiments,
the above-mentioned "optical" signals may likewise include one or more
instances of time- or position-dependent, device-detectable variations in
hue, intensity, or the like.

[0172]Alternatively or additionally, portions of such implementations or
their outputs may manifest as one or more instances of magnetic,
magneto-optic, electrostatic, or other physical configurations 3228 of
nonvolatile storage media 3226 or as external implementation access
services 3272.

[0173]In some embodiments, physical media can be configured by being
"operated to bear" or "operated upon to bear" a signal. For example, they
may include physical media that generate, transmit, conduct, receive, or
otherwise convey or store a device-detectable implementation or output as
described herein. Such conveyance or storing of a device-detectable
implementation or output may be carried out in a distributed fashion at
various times or locations, or such conveyance or storing of a
device-detectable implementation or output may be done at one location or
time. As discussed above, such physical media "operated to bear" or
"operated upon to bear" may include physical media that are atypically
constituted or adapted to facilitate methods or functions as described
herein.

[0174]In some configurations, one or more output devices 3136 may present
one or more results of generating at least some of the device-detectable
data in response to interface(s) 3130 receiving one or more invocations
or outputs of an implementation of this function via linkage 3150. Such
an "invocation" may, in some embodiments, comprise one or more instances
of requests, hardware or software activations, user actions, or other
determinants as described-herein. Alternatively or additionally, in some
embodiments, one or more input devices 3138 may later receive one or more
invocations or results of transmitting an evaluation of the
device-detectable data. In contexts like these, processor 3195 or other
components of network 3190 may likewise constitute a secondary
implementation having access to a primary instance of interface 3130
implementing methods like flow 2500 as described herein.

[0175]Serial media 3260 comprises a communication channel of two or more
media configured to bear a transition or other output increment
successively. In some embodiments, for example, serial media 3260 may
include a communication line or wireless medium (e.g., as medium 3265)
between two signal-bearing conduits (e.g., terminals or antennas as media
3263, 3267). Alternatively or additionally, one or more lenses 3131 or
other light-transmissive media may comprise a serial medium between a
light-transmissive medium and a sensor or other light receiver 3133 or
transmitter 3132. In some embodiments, such "light-transmissive" media
may (optionally) comprise metamaterials or other media operable for
bearing one or more instances of microwave signals, radiowave signals,
visible light signals, or the like.

[0176]In some embodiments, such a lens may be an optical element that
causes light to converge or diverge along one or more signal paths. Such
a light-transmissive medium may include a signal-bearing conduit, glass,
or other physical medium through which an optical signal may travel. More
generally, a signal-bearing conduit may be an electrical wire, a
telecommunications cable, a fiber-optic cable, or a mechanical coupling
or other path for the conveyance of analog or digital signals.

[0177]An embodiment provides a probe 210, 370 or other device comprising
(a) a handling control surface 214, 1630, (b) one or more distal portions
1740 narrow enough to extend into a living organism 1210, (c) a first
dispenser 921, 922, 1540 configured to apply an agent, compound 3075, or
other treatment material(s) to tissue 985, 1531 adjacent the device, and
(d) one or more instances of interface logic 1270, transducers 1290,
transmitters 3132, invocation logic 2455, or other modules of output 3216
configured to transmit a result 1194, 1663 of the treatment material(s).

[0178]An embodiment provides one or more physical media 3290 bearing (a)
an earlier image depicting at least some of a cell to which an optical
enhancement material was applied in vivo and (b) a later image depicting
at least some of the cell to which the optical enhancement material was
applied in vivo. This can occur, for example, in a context in which the
material comprises a vital stain and in which the two or more images
illustrate a progressive change in the cell in its environment.

[0179]An embodiment provides one or more disks 3244 or other physical
media 3290 bearing an optical signal 3291 or other go/no-go indicator
2931 expressing an evaluation of tissue 1531 to which a fluorescent or
other optical enhancement material was applied in vivo, for example, via
one or more protocols 1571, 1731, 2081 as described herein.

[0180]Alternatively or additionally, such media may bear device-detectable
data indicating a treatment of a tissue component in a chamber 1515, 1748
extended into tissue 985, 1531 of an organism 1210. Alternatively or
additionally, such media may bear a laser-scanned image of (at least)
some of a cell to which an elutant 1363, fluor, or other marking
component was included in a compound 3075 applied in vivo.

[0181]Alternatively or additionally, system 3200 may include one or more
instances of media for handling implementations or their outputs:
satellite dishes or other reflectors 3137, antennas 3135 or other
transducers 3275, arrays of two or more such devices configured to detect
or redirect one or more incoming signals, caching elements or other
data-holding elements (e.g., disks 3244, memories 3246, or other media
3290), integrated circuits 3134, or the like. In some variants, one or
more media may be "configured" to bear a device-detectable implementation
as described herein by being constituted or otherwise specially adapted
for that type of implementation at one or more respective times,
overlapping or otherwise. Such "signal-bearing" media may include those
configured to bear one or more such signals at various times as well as
those currently bearing them.

[0182]In some variants, such caching elements may comprise a circuit or
device configured to store data that duplicates original values stored
elsewhere or computed earlier in time. For example, a caching element may
be a temporary storage area where frequently-accessed data may be held
for rapid access by a computing system. A caching element likewise may be
machine-readable memory (including computer-readable media such as random
access memory or data disks). In some embodiments, such caching elements
may likewise comprise a latching circuit or device configured to store
data that has been modified from original values associated with the data
(held elsewhere or computed earlier in time, for example).

[0183]In one variant, respective portions 3295, 3296 of an expression 3299
of implementation 3207 may be sent through respective channels at various
times. Invoker 3212 may request or otherwise attempt to activate a
computer program or streaming media overseas via a telephone cable or
other channel 3231. Meanwhile, output 3216 may attempt to trigger a
session or other partial implementation 3252, success in which may be
indicated by receiving expression 3255 into a visual display or other
medium 3250. Such a program or other implementation may be made complete,
for example, once both of these attempts succeed.

[0184]In some embodiments, transducer(s) 3275 may comprise one or more
devices that convert a signal from one form to another form. For example,
a transducer may be a cathode ray tube that transforms electrical signals
into visual signals. Another example of a transducer comprises a
microelectromechanical systems ("MEMS") device, which may be configured
to convert mechanical signals into electrical signals (or vice versa).

[0185]Some variants may include special-purpose circuitry for triggering a
diagnostic or other evaluation in one or more microfluidic structures. In
light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may be applied
for implementing such control modules 2963 as described herein without
undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,411,672 ("Method and
apparatus for chemical imaging in a microfluidic circuit"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,391,936 ("Microfluidic sensors and methods for making the same"); U.S.
Pat. No. 7,336,812 ("System for microvolume laser scanning cytometry");
U.S. Pat. No. 7,315,357 ("Imaging and analyzing parameters of small
moving objects such as cells"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,312,611 ("Apparatus and
method for trapping bead based reagents within microfluidic analysis
systems"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,264,794 ("Methods of in vivo cytometry"); U.S.
Pat. No. 7,214,478 ("Composite material for biological or biochemical
analysis microfluidic system"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,186,352 ("Microfluidic
systems with embedded materials and structures and method thereof"); U.S.
Pat. No. 7,160,730 ("Method and apparatus for cell sorting"); U.S. Pat.
No. 7,125,711 ("Method and apparatus for splitting of specimens into
multiple channels of a microfluidic device"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,081,192
("Methods for manipulating moieties in microfluidic systems"). Some such
variants, for example, may include parallel or other media 3290 bearing a
signal from one or more chemical sensors as described herein.
Alternatively or additionally, such modules may comprise or otherwise
interact with media bearing one or more resource addresses, invocation
parameters, or other such values 2956, 2958 usable in a module 2454 of
invocation logic 2455 as described herein.

[0186]Alternatively or additionally, some variants may include or
otherwise interact with one or more modules and/or protocols for
controlling an ablation, extraction, or other operational element
adjacent to tissue or other extractions. In light of teachings herein,
numerous existing techniques may be applied for configuring one or more
modules 2846 of control logic 2840 to implement such features as
described herein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.
7,384,417 ("Air-powered tissue-aspiration instrument system employing
curved bipolar-type electro-cauterizing dual cannula assembly"); U.S.
Pat. No. 7,332,160 ("Medical device and method for tissue removal and
repair"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,297,145 ("Bipolar electrosurgical clamp for
removing and modifying tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,270,661
("Electrosurgical apparatus and methods for treatment and removal of
tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,186,234 ("Electrosurgical apparatus and methods
for treatment and removal of tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,918,919 ("System
and method for bracketing and removing tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,852,108
("Apparatus and method for resecting and removing selected body tissue
from a site inside a patient"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,830,556 ("Debridement
extension providing irrigation and mechanical scrubbing for removal of
dead, devitalized, or contaminated tissue from a wound"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,761,718 ("Direction-oriented and spatially controlled bipolar
coagulator for in-situ cauterization of adherent cranial tissue occluding
a ventricular catheter previously implanted in-vivo"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,652,522 ("Power-assisted tissue aspiration instrument with cauterizing
cannula assembly"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,722 ("Method for stabilizing and
removing tissue"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,296,608 ("Diagnosing and performing
interventional procedures on tissue in vivo"). Some such variants, for
example, may include or otherwise interact with a memory 3246 or other
media 100, 3290 bearing one or more values 2453, 2953 as described
herein. Such values may, in various contexts, be usable in configuring
operational settings of a probe 210, 370, 590, 840, 910, 1510; a digital
microscope 2270; a flow cytometer 2414, an extraction module 3000, or
other such equipment for preparing, imaging, or otherwise handling
samples 1112, 2062, 3080. Such variants may, for example, include media
bearing one or more frequency ranges, acquisition durations, or other
such values 2953, 2955 usable in an interferometer 2404 as described
herein.

[0187]Alternatively or additionally, some variants may include hardware
configurations for a surgical probe or other instrument with a handling
control surface 1630. In light of teachings herein, numerous existing
techniques may be applied for implementing and positioning such
extraction modules 660, 850, 3000; sensors 553, 1644, 1746 or other
detection logic; treatment modules 530, 890; distal portions 550, 1740;
control logic 2840, transmission or other media 3290, chambers or other
features for tissue sampling and/or observation, or other features as
described herein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.
7,366,562 ("Method and apparatus for surgical navigation"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,328,057 ("Shunt passer or like surgical instrument configured for
receiving different-sized positioning locators of image-guided surgical
system"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,252,660 ("Multifunctional instrument for use in
microinvasive surgery"); U.S. Pat. No. 7,166,114 ("Method and system for
calibrating a surgical tool and adapter thereof"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,122,028 ("Reconfiguration surgical apparatus"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,950,691
("Surgery support system and surgery support method"); U.S. Pat. No.
6,802,840 ("Medical instrument positioning tool and method"); U.S. Pat.
No. 6,647,281 ("Expandable diagnostic or therapeutic apparatus and system
for introducing the same into the body"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,589,231
("Multi-function surgical instrument tool actuator assembly"); U.S. Pat.
No. 6,572,264 ("Radiation clinical thermometer"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,134
("Calibration of an instrument"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,547 ("Detection of
the shape of treatment devices"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,262 ("Instrument
guidance for stereotactic surgery"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,197,003 ("Catheter
advancing single-handed soft passer"). Some such variants, for example,
may present or otherwise bear laser-scanned images, measurements,
evaluations, or other such output relating to a patient's tissue.
Alternatively or additionally, such output may include products of
various botanical or other agricultural protocols 2082, minimally
invasive protocols 1733, or other surgical protocols as described herein.

[0188]Alternatively or additionally, some variants may include
special-purpose protocols or components for causing cells or other
structures to undergo scanning or other electron microscopic imaging. In
light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may be applied by
module 2961 for implementing such sampling, marking, or other protocols
without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,374,907
("System and method for automatically processing tissue samples"); U.S.
Pat. No. 7,344,700 ("Radiolabeled selective androgen receptor modulators
and their use in prostate cancer imaging and therapy"); U.S. Pat. No.
7,230,242 ("Methods for SEM inspection of fluid containing samples");
U.S. Pat. No. 6,811,766 ("Ultrasound imaging with contrast agent targeted
to microvasculature and a vasodilator drug"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,783,752
("Contrast agents"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,106,804 ("Arsenic-72 labeled
compounds for tissue specific medical imaging"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,096,874
("High affinity tamoxifen derivatives"); U.S. Pat. No. 5,808,300 ("Method
and apparatus for imaging biological samples with MALDI MS"). This can
occur, for example, in a context in which linkage module 2900 interacts
with one or more facilities 990, providers 2475 or other resources (in
networks 790, 1830, e.g.), or other entities via one or more media 100,
1000, 3290 as described herein.

[0189]In some variants, the above-described systems and methods may
incorporate or otherwise operate in conjunction with a hand-held probe or
other instrument with a handling control surface. Such surfaces may be
configured to permit a clinician or other user to extend an entirety of a
chamber into an organism, for example, or otherwise to facilitate tissue
extractions and/or measurements. Alternatively or additionally, such
embodiments may include a context in which a chamber contains a reagent
to begin the treatment upon a portion of the tissue entering the chamber.

[0190]In some variants, the above-described systems and methods may
incorporate or otherwise operate in conjunction with circuitry for
transmitting energy into extractions in a chamber, such as for curing a
fixative and/or to facilitate capturing an image of a sample.

[0191]In some variants, the above-described systems and methods may
incorporate or otherwise operate in conjunction with a camera or other
imaging system, an electrospray or other mass spectrometer, or other such
instrument configured to observe such a tissue sample in the chamber and
to transmit, store, display, or otherwise provide at least some such
device-detectable data on the one or more physical media.

[0192]In some variants, the above-described systems and methods may
incorporate or otherwise operate in conjunction with dispensers of
pharmaceuticals, fixatives, solvents, or other chemical treatment
materials. Such materials may include stains or other optical enhancement
materials, for example. Such materials may likewise include a syringe or
other such mechanism for depositing materials in vivo and/or into a
chamber. Alternatively or additionally, such embodiments may include a
context in which the treatment commences upon a portion of the tissue in
such a chamber and continues upon the tissue sample in the chamber.

[0193]In some variants, the above-described systems and methods may
incorporate or otherwise operate in conjunction with optical or other
treatment components causing a discoloration, luminescence, or other
artificial enhancement of one or more optical properties of a tissue or
extraction. In many existing protocols, for example, markers may
effectively be used for detecting specific genes or other components of
large molecules.

[0194]In some variants, the above-described systems and methods may
incorporate or otherwise operate in conjunction with physical media
bearing one or more configuration parameters, type identifiers, images,
measurements, specifications, or other descriptors of instruments and/or
materials.

[0195]In some variants, the above-described systems and methods may
incorporate or otherwise operate in conjunction with various
spectrometers, microscopes, ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging
systems, or other such instruments as exemplified herein. Such
instruments may, for example, be configured (a) to observe tissue samples
in chambers and (b) to include physical media bearing images or other
device-detectable data. Such instruments may likewise include one or more
lenses configured to receive optical energy from a region containing one
or more cells, for example, and circuitry for transforming such optical
energy into images.

[0196]Some or all of the embodiments described herein may generally
comprise technologies for handling one or more bioactive agents and/or
carriers in releasable module form, via a liquid-bearing conduit, in a
mist or other spray form, in a pumped or other pressurized form, or
otherwise according to technologies described herein. In a general sense,
those skilled in the art will recognize that the various aspects
described herein which can be implemented, individually and/or
collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or any
combination thereof can be viewed as being composed of various types of
"electrical circuitry." Consequently, as used herein "electrical
circuitry" includes, but is not limited to, electrical circuitry having
at least one discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having at
least one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one
application specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry forming a
general purpose computing device configured by a computer program (e.g.,
a general purpose computer configured by a computer program which at
least partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein, or
a microprocessor configured by a computer program which at least
partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein),
electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., forms of random
access memory), and/or electrical circuitry forming a communications
device (e.g., a modem, communications switch, or optical-electrical
equipment). Those having skill in the art will recognize that the subject
matter described herein may be implemented in an analog or digital
fashion or some combination thereof.

[0197]The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments
of the devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams,
flowcharts, and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts,
and/or examples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will
be understood by those within the art that each function and/or operation
within such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented,
individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software,
firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment,
several portions of the subject matter described herein may be
implemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field
Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), or
other integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art will
recognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, in whole
or in part, can be equivalently implemented in integrated circuits, as
one or more computer programs running on one or more computers (e.g., as
one or more programs running on one or more computer systems), as one or
more programs running on one or more processors (e.g., as one or more
programs running on one or more microprocessors), as firmware, or as
virtually any combination thereof, and that designing the circuitry
and/or writing the code for the software and or firmware would be well
within the skill of one of skill in the art in light of this disclosure.
In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanisms
of the subject matter described herein are capable of being distributed
as a program product in a variety of forms, and that an illustrative
embodiment of the subject matter described herein applies regardless of
the particular type of signal bearing medium used to actually carry out
the distribution. Examples of a signal bearing medium include, but are
not limited to, the following: a recordable type medium such as a floppy
disk, a hard disk drive, a Compact Disc (CD), a Digital Video Disk (DVD),
a digital tape, a computer memory, etc.; and a transmission type medium
such as a digital and/or an analog communication medium (e.g., a fiber
optic cable, a waveguide, a wired communications link, a wireless
communication link (e.g., transmitter, receiver, transmission logic,
reception logic, etc.), etc.).

[0198]All of the above-mentioned U.S. patents, U.S. patent application
publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent
applications and non-patent publications referred to in this
specification and/or listed in any Application Data Sheet, are
incorporated herein by reference, to the extent not inconsistent
herewith.

[0199]One skilled in the art will recognize that the herein described
components (e.g., operations), devices, objects, and the discussion
accompanying them are used as examples for the sake of conceptual clarity
and that various configuration modifications are contemplated.
Consequently, as used herein, the specific exemplars set forth and the
accompanying discussion are intended to be representative of their more
general classes. In general, use of any specific exemplar is intended to
be representative of its class, and the non-inclusion of specific
components (e.g., operations), devices, and objects should not be taken
limiting.

[0200]With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular
terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural
to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate
to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural
permutations are not expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

[0201]The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates different
components contained within, or connected with, different other
components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures are
merely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures may be
implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense,
any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is
effectively "associated" such that the desired functionality is achieved.
Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular
functionality can be seen as "associated with" each other such that the
desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or
intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated can
also be viewed as being "operably connected", or "operably coupled," to
each other to achieve the desired functionality, and any two components
capable of being so associated can also be viewed as being "operably
couplable," to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specific
examples of operably couplable include but are not limited to physically
mateable and/or physically interacting components, and/or wirelessly
interactable, and/or wirelessly interacting components, and/or logically
interacting, and/or logically interactable components.

[0203]While particular aspects of the present subject matter described
herein have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those
skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and
modifications may be made without departing from the subject matter
described herein and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended
claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and
modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of the subject
matter described herein. It will be understood by those within the art
that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended
claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as
"open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as
"including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted
as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as
"includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by
those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim
recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the
claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present.
For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims
may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or
more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases
should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim
recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular
claim containing such introduced claim recitation to claims containing
only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the
introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite
articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be
interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true
for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In
addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is
explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such
recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited
number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other
modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more
recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention
analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general such
a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would
understand the convention (e.g., " a system having at least one of A, B,
and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B
alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together,
and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention
analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such
a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would
understand the convention (e.g., " a system having at least one of A, B,
or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B
alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together,
and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by
those within the art that typically a disjunctive word and/or phrase
presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description,
claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the
possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both
terms unless context dictates otherwise. For example, the phrase "A or B"
will be typically understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B"
or "A and B."

[0204]With respect to the appended claims, those skilled in the art will
appreciate that recited operations therein may generally be performed in
any order. Also, although various operational flows are presented in a
sequence(s), it should be understood that the various operations may be
performed in other orders than those which are illustrated, or may be
performed concurrently. Examples of such alternate orderings may include
overlapping, interleaved, interrupted, reordered, incremental,
preparatory, supplemental, simultaneous, reverse, or other variant
orderings, unless context dictates otherwise. Furthermore, terms like
"responsive to," "related to," or other past-tense adjectives are
generally not intended to exclude such variants, unless context dictates
otherwise.

[0205]Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is common within the
art to implement devices and/or processes and/or systems, and thereafter
use engineering and/or other practices to integrate such implemented
devices and/or processes and/or systems into more comprehensive devices
and/or processes and/or systems. That is, at least a portion of the
devices and/or processes and/or systems described herein can be
integrated into other devices and/or processes and/or systems via a
reasonable amount of experimentation. Those having skill in the art will
recognize that examples of such other devices and/or processes and/or
systems might include--as appropriate to context and application--all or
part of devices and/or processes and/or systems of (a) an air conveyance
(e.g., an airplane, rocket, helicopter, etc.), (b) a ground conveyance
(e.g., a car, truck, locomotive, tank, armored personnel carrier, etc.),
(c) a building (e.g., a home, warehouse, office, etc.), (d) an appliance
(e.g., a refrigerator, a washing machine, a dryer, etc.), (e) a
communications system (e.g., a networked system, a telephone system, a
Voice over IP system, etc.), (f) a business entity (e.g., an Internet
Service Provider (ISP) entity such as Comcast Cable, Qwest, Southwestern
Bell, etc.), or (g) a wired/wireless services entity (e.g., Sprint,
Cingular, Nextel, etc.), etc.

[0206]In certain cases, use of a system or method may occur in a territory
even if components are located outside the territory. For example, in a
distributed computing context, use of a distributed computing system may
occur in a territory even though parts of the system may be located
outside of the territory (e.g., relay, server, processor, signal-bearing
medium, transmitting computer, receiving computer, etc. located outside
the territory).

[0207]A sale of a system or method may likewise occur in a territory even
if components of the system or method are located and/or used outside the
territory. Further, implementation of at least part of a system for
performing a method in one territory does not preclude use of the system
in another territory.

[0208]Various aspects of the subject matter described herein are set out
in the following numbered clauses:

[0209]1. A medical or veterinary system comprising:

[0210]a surgical probe having a first separable extraction module;

[0211]a treatment module configured to apply a first treatment to a tissue
sample in the first separable extraction module of the surgical probe;
and

[0212]an output module configured to transmit a result of the first
treatment from the surgical probe.

[0213]2. The medical or veterinary system of clause 1 in which the
treatment module comprises:

[0214]circuitry for causing an application of the first treatment in
response to contemporaneous user input.

[0215]3. The medical or veterinary system of clause 1, further comprising:

[0216]circuitry for positioning at least the first separable extraction
module.

[0217]4. The medical or veterinary system of clause 1, further comprising:

[0218]circuitry for positioning at least a distal end of the surgical
probe.

[0219]5. The medical or veterinary system of clause 1, further comprising:

[0220]circuitry for processing data from one or more assay protocols
performed upon the tissue sample.

[0221]6. The medical or veterinary system of clause 1, further comprising:

[0222]circuitry for processing data from one or more biomarker detection
protocols performed upon the tissue sample.

[0223]7. The medical or veterinary system of clause 1, further comprising:

[0335]62. The medical or veterinary system of clause 44, in which the
output module comprises:

[0336]a device configured to observe the tissue sample in the first cavity
and to transmit the result via one or more conduits.

[0337]63. The medical or veterinary system of clause 44, in which the
output module comprises:

[0338]circuitry for causing the result of the first treatment to be stored
on one or more physical media.

[0339]64. The medical or veterinary system of clause 44, further
comprising:

[0340]a device configured to observe the tissue sample in a first
separable extraction module and to cause a presentation of at least some
of the result on one or more physical media.

[0341]65. The medical or veterinary system of clause 44, further
comprising:

[0342]an electron microscope configured to observe the tissue sample and
to provide at least some of the result on one or more physical media.

[0343]66. The medical or veterinary system of clause 44, further
comprising:

[0344]a fluorescence microscope configured to observe the tissue sample
and to provide at least some of the result on one or more physical media.

[0345]67. The medical or veterinary system of clause 44, further
comprising:

[0346]a confocal microscope configured to observe the tissue sample and to
provide at least some of the result on one or more physical media.

[0347]68. The medical or veterinary system of clause 44, further
comprising:

[0348]a spectrometer configured to observe the tissue sample and to
provide at least some of the result on one or more physical media.

[0349]69. The medical or veterinary system of clause 44, further
comprising:

[0350]an imaging system configured to observe the tissue sample and to
provide at least some of the result on one or more physical media.

[0351]70. The medical or veterinary system of clause 44, further
comprising:

[0352]a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system configured to observe
the tissue sample and to provide at least some of the result on one or
more physical media.

[0353]71. The medical or veterinary system of clause 44, further
comprising:

[0354]circuitry for transmitting energy into the tissue sample; and

[0355]circuitry for capturing an image of the tissue sample.

[0356]72. The medical or veterinary system of clause 44 in which the
surgical probe comprises:

[0357]one or more handling control surfaces configured to permit a user to
extend an entirety of the first cavity into an organism.

[0358]73. The medical or veterinary system of clause 44 in which the
surgical probe comprises:

[0359]a first separable extraction module containing the first cavity and
supportable by and separable from a remainder of the surgical instrument.

[0360]74. The medical or veterinary system of clause 44, further
comprising:

[0361]one or more media bearing an attribute of a macromolecule of the
tissue sample.

[0362]75. The medical or veterinary system of clause 44, further
comprising:

[0363]one or more media bearing a morphological category relating to a
portion of the tissue sample.

[0364]76. The medical or veterinary system of clause 44, further
comprising:

[0365]circuitry for selecting a stain effective for indicating whether the
tissue sample includes a chromosomal abnormality.

[0366]77. The medical or veterinary system of clause 44, further
comprising:

[0367]circuitry for causing the tissue sample to come into contact with a
stain effective for indicating whether the tissue sample apparently
exhibits an attribute of interest.

[0368]78. The medical or veterinary system of clause 44 in which a portion
of the first treatment module comprises:

[0369]a dispenser operable to mark a portion of the tissue sample with a
luminescent marking agent of the first treatment.

[0370]79. The medical or veterinary system of clause 44 in which a portion
of the first treatment module comprises:

[0371]a dispenser operable to mark a portion of the tissue sample with a
stain of the first treatment.

[0372]80. The medical or veterinary system of clause 44, further
comprising:

[0373]circuitry for configuring the result to include one or more
size-descriptive quantities relating to the tissue sample.

[0374]81. A medical or veterinary system comprising:

[0375]a device having at least (a) a handling control surface, (b) a
distal portion narrow enough to extend into a living organism, (c) a
first dispenser configured to apply a first treatment material to tissue
adjacent the device, and (d) a first output module configured to transmit
a result of the first treatment material.

[0376]82. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81 in which the first
treatment module comprises:

[0377]circuitry for actuating the first dispenser in response to
contemporaneous user input.

[0378]83. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, further
comprising:

[0379]circuitry for positioning at least the distal portion of the device.

[0380]84. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, further
comprising:

[0381]circuitry for processing data from one or more assay protocols
performed upon a sample of the tissue.

[0382]85. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, further
comprising:

[0383]circuitry for processing data from one or more biomarker detection
protocols performed upon a sample of the tissue.

[0384]86. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, further
comprising:

[0385]at least one medium bearing an operational setting value usable in
laser scanning equipment for analyzing a sample of the tissue.

[0386]87. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, further
comprising:

[0387]at least one medium bearing an operational setting value usable in a
mass spectroscope for analyzing a sample of the tissue.

[0388]88. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, further
comprising: at least one medium bearing an operational setting value
usable in a microscope for analyzing a sample of the tissue.

[0389]89. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, further
comprising:

[0390]laser scanning equipment operable for receiving at least the distal
portion of the device.

[0391]90. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, further
comprising:

[0392]a separable extraction module of the device; and

[0393]imaging equipment operable for receiving the separable extraction
module of the device.

[0394]91. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, further
comprising: a recessed portion of the device containing a sample of the
tissue adjacent the device.

[0395]92. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, further
comprising:

[0396]a recessed portion of the device containing a sample of the tissue
adjacent the device; and

[0397]one or more conduits operably coupling the first output module with
imaging equipment operable to detect the result of the first treatment.

[0398]93. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, further
comprising:

[0399]circuitry for configuring the result to include one or more
quantifications derived from an optical field of the tissue adjacent the
device.

[0400]94. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81 in which the first
treatment material comprises:

[0401]a drug.

[0402]95. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81 in which the first
treatment material comprises:

[0403]a buffer.

[0404]96. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81 in which the first
treatment material comprises:

[0405]a permeabilizing agent.

[0406]97. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81 in which the
device further comprises:

[0407]an electropermeabilization module configured to permeabilize at
least some of the tissue.

[0408]98. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, further
comprising:

[0409]a device configured to extract a sample of the tissue adjacent the
distal portion.

[0410]99. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, in which the
output module comprises:

[0411]a component configured to observe the tissue and to transmit the
result via one or more conduits.

[0412]100. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, in which the
output module comprises:

[0413]a component configured to observe the tissue adjacent the device and
to cause at least some of the result of the first treatment material to
be stored.

[0414]101. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, in which the
output module comprises:

[0415]a sensor configured to observe the tissue adjacent the device and to
transmit at least some of the result on one or more physical media.

[0416]102. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, further
comprising:

[0417]an electron microscope configured to observe the tissue adjacent the
device and to provide at least some of the result on one or more physical
media.

[0418]103. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, further
comprising:

[0419]a fluorescence microscope configured to observe the tissue adjacent
the device and to provide at least some of the result on one or more
physical media.

[0420]104. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, further
comprising:

[0421]a confocal microscope configured to observe the tissue adjacent the
device and to provide at least some of the result on one or more physical
media.

[0422]105. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, further
comprising:

[0423]a spectrometer configured to observe the tissue adjacent the device
and to provide at least some of the result on one or more physical media.

[0424]106. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, further
comprising:

[0425]an imaging system configured to observe the tissue adjacent the
device and to provide at least some of the result on one or more physical
media.

[0426]107. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, further
comprising:

[0427]a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system configured to observe
the tissue adjacent the device and to provide at least some of the result
on one or more physical media.

[0428]108. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, further
comprising:

[0429]circuitry for transmitting energy into a sample of the tissue
adjacent the device; and

[0430]circuitry for capturing an image of the sample of the tissue.

[0431]109. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81 in which the
device further comprises:

[0432]the handling control surface configured to permit a user to extend
an entirety of a first tissue extraction cavity into the living organism.

[0433]110. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81 in which the
device further comprises:

[0434]a first separable extraction module containing a cavity and
supportable by and separable from a remainder of the device.

[0435]111. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, further
comprising:

[0436]one or more media bearing an attribute of a macromolecule relating
to the tissue adjacent the device.

[0437]112. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, further
comprising:

[0438]one or more media bearing a morphological category relating to a
portion of the tissue adjacent the device.

[0439]113. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, further
comprising:

[0440]circuitry for causing the tissue adjacent the device to come into
contact with a stain effective for indicating whether the tissue
apparently exhibits an attribute of interest.

[0441]114. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81 in which the
first dispenser comprises:

[0442]a fluorescent marking agent of the first treatment material.

[0443]115. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81 in which the
first dispenser comprises:

[0444]a stain of the first treatment material.

[0445]116. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, further
comprising:

[0446]a second dispenser operable to administer a stain.

[0447]117. The medical or veterinary system of clause 81, further
comprising:

[0448]circuitry for configuring the result to include one or more
size-descriptive quantities relating to the tissue adjacent the device.

[0449]118. A medical or veterinary system comprising:

[0450]a first dispenser configured to apply a first treatment material to
tissue of an organism in vivo;

[0451]a cooling component configured to freeze at least some of the tissue
in vivo; and

[0452]an extraction element configured to remove at least a portion of the
tissue from the organism.

[0453]119. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0454]circuitry for actuating the first dispenser in response to
contemporaneous user input.

[0455]120. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0456]circuitry for positioning at least a portion of the first dispenser.

[0457]121. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0458]circuitry for processing data from one or more assay protocols
performed upon the portion of the tissue.

[0459]122. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0460]circuitry for processing data from one or more biomarker detection
protocols performed upon (at least some of) the portion of the tissue.

[0461]123. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0462]at least one medium bearing an operational setting value usable in
laser scanning equipment for analyzing the portion of the tissue.

[0463]124. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0464]at least one medium bearing an operational setting value usable in a
mass spectroscope for analyzing the portion of the tissue.

[0465]125. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0466]at least one medium bearing an operational setting value usable in a
microscope for analyzing the portion of the tissue.

[0467]126. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0468]laser scanning equipment operable for receiving at least some of the
extraction element of the device.

[0469]127. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0470]imaging equipment operable for receiving at least some of the
extraction element of the device.

[0471]128. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118 in which the
extraction element comprises:

[0472]a recessed portion configured to contain the portion of the tissue.

[0473]129. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0474]one or more conduits operably coupling imaging equipment with a
portion of the extraction element configured to support the portion of
the tissue.

[0475]130. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118 in which the
first treatment material comprises:

[0476]a drug.

[0477]131. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118 in which the
first treatment material comprises:

[0478]a buffer.

[0479]132. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118 in which the
first treatment material comprises:

[0480]a permeabilizing agent.

[0481]133. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0482]a microinjection module configured to penetrate at least one cell of
the tissue in vivo.

[0483]134. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0484]an electropermeabilization module configured to permeabilize at
least one cell of the tissue in vivo.

[0485]135. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0486]circuitry for generating one or more quantifications from an optical
field of the tissue from the organism.

[0487]136. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, in which the
extraction element comprises:

[0488]a microtome configured to section the portion of the tissue.

[0489]137. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, in which the
extraction element comprises:

[0490]a device configured to extract the portion of the tissue by dividing
a sample of the tissue.

[0491]138. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, in which the
extraction element comprises:

[0492]a component configured to observe the portion of the tissue in a
first cavity and to transmit an output via one or more conduits.

[0493]139. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, in which the
extraction element comprises:

[0494]circuitry for causing a result of the first treatment material to be
stored on one or more physical media.

[0495]140. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0496]circuitry for observing the tissue configured to cause a
presentation of an output on one or more physical media.

[0497]141. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0498]circuitry for transmitting a go/no-go result of the first treatment
material on one or more physical media.

[0499]142. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0500]an electron microscope configured to observe the portion of the
tissue and to provide an output on one or more physical media.

[0501]143. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0502]a fluorescence microscope configured to observe the portion of the
tissue and to provide an output on one or more physical media.

[0503]144. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0504]a confocal microscope configured to observe the portion of the
tissue and to provide an output on one or more physical media.

[0505]145. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0506]a spectrometer configured to observe the portion of the tissue and
to provide an output on one or more physical media.

[0507]146. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0508]an imaging system configured to observe the portion of the tissue
and to provide an output on one or more physical media.

[0509]147. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0510]a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system configured to observe
the portion of the tissue and to provide an output on one or more
physical media.

[0511]148. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0512]circuitry for transmitting energy into the portion of the tissue;
and

[0513]circuitry for capturing an image of the portion of the tissue.

[0514]149. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0515]one or more handling control surfaces configured to permit a user to
extend an entirety of the extraction element into the organism.

[0516]150. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, in which the
extraction element comprises:

[0517]a first separable module containing a cavity and supportable by and
separable from a remainder of the extraction element.

[0518]151. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0519]one or more media bearing an attribute of a macromolecule relating
to the tissue.

[0520]152. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0521]one or more media bearing a morphological category relating to a
portion of the tissue of the organism.

[0522]153. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0523]circuitry for selecting a stain effective for indicating whether the
tissue includes a chromosomal abnormality.

[0524]154. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0525]circuitry for causing the portion of the tissue to come into contact
with a stain effective for indicating whether the tissue apparently
exhibits an attribute of interest.

[0526]155. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118 in which the
first dispenser comprises:

[0527]a permeabilizing agent of the first treatment material.

[0528]156. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118 in which the
first dispenser comprises:

[0529]a luminescent marking agent of the first treatment material.

[0530]157. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118 in which the
first dispenser comprises:

[0531]a stain of the first treatment material.

[0532]158. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0533]circuitry for configuring a result of the first treatment material
to include one or more size-descriptive quantities relating to the
tissue.

[0534]159. The medical or veterinary system of clause 118, further
comprising:

[0535]circuitry for generating one or more size-descriptive quantities
relating to the portion of the tissue from the organism.

[0536]160. A medical or veterinary system comprising:

[0537]a probe having at least a first dispenser configured to apply a
first treatment material to tissue of an organism in vivo, a first
optical element configured to transmit light into the tissue of the
organism in vivo, and a first output module configured to transmit a
result of at least the light and the first treatment material upon the
tissue of the organism in vivo.

[0538]161. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, further
comprising:

[0539]circuitry for actuating the first dispenser in response to
contemporaneous user input.

[0540]162. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, further
comprising:

[0541]circuitry for positioning at least a portion of the first dispenser.

[0542]163. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, further
comprising:

[0543]circuitry for processing data from one or more assay protocols
performed upon a portion of the tissue.

[0544]164. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, further
comprising:

[0545]circuitry for processing data from one or more biomarker detection
protocols performed upon a portion of the tissue.

[0546]165. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, further
comprising:

[0547]at least one medium bearing an operational setting value usable in
laser scanning equipment for analyzing a portion of the tissue.

[0548]166. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, further
comprising:

[0549]at least one medium bearing an operational setting value usable in a
mass spectroscope for analyzing a portion of the tissue.

[0550]167. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, further
comprising:

[0551]at least one medium bearing an operational setting value usable in a
microscope for analyzing a portion of the tissue.

[0552]168. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, further
comprising:

[0553]laser scanning equipment operable for receiving a portion of the
probe configured to contain a sample of the tissue.

[0554]169. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, in which the
probe further comprises:

[0555]an extraction module configured to contain a sample of the tissue.

[0556]170. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, in which the
first optical element comprises:

[0557]an infrared emitter.

[0558]171. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, in which the
first optical element comprises:

[0559]a conduit configured (at least) to bear the light into the tissue of
the organism.

[0560]172. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, in which the
first output module comprises:

[0561]a conduit configured (at least) to bear the result.

[0562]173. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, further
comprising:

[0563]imaging equipment operable for receiving an extraction module of the
probe.

[0564]174. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160 in which the
extraction element comprises:

[0565]a recessed portion configured to contain a sample of the tissue.

[0566]175. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, further
comprising:

[0567]one or more conduits operably coupling imaging equipment with a
portion of the probe configured to contain a portion of the tissue.

[0568]176. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160 in which the
first treatment material comprises:

[0569]a drug.

[0570]177. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160 in which the
first treatment material comprises:

[0571]a buffer.

[0572]178. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160 in which the
first treatment material comprises:

[0573]a permeabilizing agent.

[0574]179. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160 in which the
first treatment material comprises:

[0575]a fixative.

[0576]180. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160 in which the
first treatment material comprises:

[0577]a stain.

[0578]181. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160 in which the
first treatment material comprises:

[0579]an antibody.

[0580]182. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, further
comprising:

[0581]circuitry for configuring the result to include one or more
quantifications derived from an optical field of the tissue.

[0582]183. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, further
comprising:

[0583]a laser microtome configured to section a sample of the tissue.

[0584]184. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, in which the
output module comprises:

[0585]a device configured to observe the tissue in a first cavity and to
transmit via a conduit the result of at least the light and the first
treatment material upon the tissue of the organism in vivo.

[0586]185. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, in which the
output module comprises:

[0587]circuitry for causing at least some of the result to be stored.

[0588]186. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, further
comprising:

[0589]circuitry for causing a presentation of at least a go/no-go
component of the result on one or more physical media.

[0590]187. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, further
comprising:

[0591]an electron microscope configured to observe the tissue and to
provide at least some of the result on one or more physical media.

[0592]188. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, further
comprising:

[0593]a fluorescence microscope configured to observe the tissue and to
provide at least some of the result on one or more physical media.

[0594]189. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, further
comprising:

[0595]a confocal microscope (at least) configured to observe (at least) a
sample of (at least) the tissue and to provide at least some of the
result on (at least) a physical medium.

[0596]190. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, further
comprising:

[0597]a spectrometer configured to observe the tissue and to provide at
least some of the result on one or more physical media.

[0598]191. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, further
comprising:

[0599]an imaging system configured to observe the tissue and to provide at
least some of the result on one or more physical media.

[0600]192. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, further
comprising:

[0601]a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system configured to observe
the tissue and to provide at least some of the result on one or more
physical media.

[0602]193. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, further
comprising:

[0603]circuitry for transmitting energy into a sample of the tissue; and

[0604]circuitry for capturing an image of the sample of the tissue.

[0605]194. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160 in which the
surgical probe comprises:

[0606]one or more handling control surfaces configured to permit a user to
extend an entirety of a first cavity into the organism.

[0607]195. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160 in which the
surgical probe comprises:

[0608]a first separable extraction module containing a cavity and
supportable by and separable from a remainder of the probe.

[0609]196. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, further
comprising:

[0610]one or more media bearing an attribute of a macromolecule relating
to the tissue of the organism.

[0611]197. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, further
comprising:

[0612]one or more media bearing a morphological category relating to a
portion of the tissue of the organism.

[0613]198. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, further
comprising:

[0614]circuitry for causing a sample of the tissue to come into contact
with a stain effective for indicating whether the tissue apparently
exhibits an attribute of interest.

[0615]199. The medical or veterinary system of clause 160, in which the
first dispenser comprises:

[0645]214. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the device-detectable data
indicating the treatment of the tissue component in the chamber
comprises:

[0646]a signal from a probe that was positioned adjacent the tissue
component in vivo.

[0647]215. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the device-detectable data
indicating the treatment of the tissue component in the chamber
comprises:

[0648]a signal from a surgical instrument that was positioned adjacent the
tissue component.

[0649]216. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0650]an image of the tissue component from an electron microscope.

[0651]217. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0652]an image of the tissue component from laser-scanning equipment.

[0653]218. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0654]some of the one or more physical media bearing a signal from a
biosensor.

[0655]219. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0656]a result of an in situ hybridization protocol performed upon some of
the tissue component.

[0657]220. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0658]a result of positioning at least some of the tissue component in a
microfluidic structure.

[0659]221. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0660]some of the one or more physical media bearing a result of the
treatment including one or more antibodies.

[0661]222. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0662]a result of material applied in vivo indicating an absence of or a
presence of a first attribute in the tissue component

[0663]223. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0664]some of the one or more physical media bearing a portion of the
device-detectable data received from one or more chemical sensors.

[0665]224. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the device-detectable data
indicating the treatment of the tissue component in the chamber
comprises:

[0666]a karyotype of the organism.

[0667]225. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the device-detectable data
indicating the treatment of the tissue component in the chamber
comprises:

[0668]a data component relating to blood extracted from the organism.

[0669]226. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the device-detectable data
indicating the treatment of the tissue component in the chamber
comprises:

[0670]a data component relating to fluid extracted from the organism.

[0671]227. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the device-detectable data
indicating the treatment of the tissue component in the chamber
comprises:

[0672]an extraction protocol descriptor.

[0673]228. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the device-detectable data
comprises:

[0674]one or more identifiers of a protocol by which the tissue component
was treated in the chamber.

[0675]229. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the device-detectable data
comprises:

[0676]one or more identifiers of a protocol by which the tissue component
was frozen.

[0677]230. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the device-detectable data
comprises:

[0678]one or more identifiers of a protocol by which the tissue component
was optically treated.

[0679]231. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the device-detectable data
comprises:

[0680]one or more identifiers of an agent to which the tissue component
was exposed in the chamber.

[0681]232. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the device-detectable data
comprises:

[0682]one or more identifiers of a marking agent by which the tissue
component was chemically treated.

[0683]233. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the device-detectable data
comprises:

[0684]a go/no-go indication relating to the tissue component.

[0685]234. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the device-detectable data
comprises:

[0686]a go/no-go indication of an extraction of the tissue component.

[0687]235. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the device-detectable data
comprises:

[0688]a laser-scanned image of at least some of a cell to which an optical
enhancement material of the treatment was applied in vivo.

[0689]236. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the device-detectable data
comprises:

[0690]an earlier image depicting the tissue component unfrozen; and

[0691]a later image depicting the tissue component frozen.

[0692]237. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media comprises:

[0693]some of the one or more physical media bearing a component of the
device-detectable data indicating an optical treatment of the tissue
component.

[0694]238. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media comprises:

[0695]some of the one or more physical media bearing a component of the
device-detectable data indicating a chemical component of the treatment
of the tissue component in the chamber.

[0696]239. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media comprises:

[0697]some of the one or more physical media bearing a component of the
device-detectable data indicating the treatment of the tissue component
in the chamber.

[0698]240. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media comprises:

[0699]some of the one or more physical media bearing a component of the
device-detectable data indicating the treatment of the tissue component
in the chamber after separating the chamber from the tissue of the
organism.

[0700]241. The apparatus of clause 205, further comprising:

[0701]circuitry for causing chemically treated tissue to be frozen in vivo
in response to contemporaneous user input.

[0702]242. The apparatus of clause 205, further comprising:

[0703]circuitry for positioning a dispenser adjacent the tissue.

[0704]243. The apparatus of clause 205, further comprising:

[0705]circuitry for processing a component of the device-detectable data
obtained from one or more assay protocols performed upon at least some of
the tissue.

[0706]244. The apparatus of clause 205, further comprising:

[0707]circuitry for processing a component of the device-detectable data
obtained from one or more biomarker detection protocols performed upon at
least some of the tissue.

[0708]245. The apparatus of clause 205, further comprising:

[0709]circuitry for processing a component of the device-detectable data
obtained from one or more laser scanning protocols performed upon at
least some of the tissue.

[0710]246. The apparatus of clause 205, further comprising:

[0711]one or more other physical media bearing an operational setting
value usable in laser scanning equipment for analyzing a portion of the
tissue.

[0712]247. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media comprises:

[0713]at least one of the one or more physical media bearing an
operational setting value usable for analyzing a portion of the tissue.

[0714]248. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media comprises:

[0715]at least one of the one or more physical media having borne an
operational setting value usable in a microscope for analyzing a portion
of the tissue.

[0716]249. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media comprises:

[0717]a conduit configured to bear a result of an optical treatment in
vivo upon the chemically treated tissue.

[0718]250. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media comprises:

[0719]a conduit configured to bear a result of an optical treatment upon
the chemically treated tissue frozen in vivo.

[0720]251. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media comprises:

[0721]one or more conduits coupling imaging equipment with a module
configured to contain the extraction.

[0722]252. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media comprises:

[0723]one or more conduits coupling imaging equipment with an instrument
configured to perform the extraction.

[0724]253. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the treatment comprises:

[0725]alcohol.

[0726]254. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the treatment comprises:

[0727]buffered formalin.

[0728]255. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the treatment comprises:

[0729]a permeabilizing agent.

[0730]256. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the treatment comprises:

[0731]one or more of a microinjection or an electropermeabilization.

[0732]257. The apparatus of clause 205 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0733]one or more quantifications derived from an optical field of the
tissue component.

[0734]258. The apparatus of clause 205 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0735]an attribute of a macromolecule relating to the tissue.

[0736]259. The apparatus of clause 205 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0737]an indication of whether the tissue apparently exhibits a
chromosomal attribute of interest.

[0738]260. The apparatus of clause 205 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0739]an indication of how much of the tissue apparently exhibits a
pathology.

[0740]261. The apparatus of clause 205 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0741]a portion of the device-detectable data indicating a luminescent
marking agent in the treatment of the tissue component.

[0742]262. The apparatus of clause 205 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0743]a portion of the device-detectable data indicating a stain in the
treatment of the tissue component.

[0744]263. The apparatus of clause 205 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0745]one or more size-descriptive quantities relating to the tissue
component.

[0746]264. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media comprise:

[0747]at least one of the one or more physical media bearing a component
of the device-detectable data that was generated while the treatment was
applied to the tissue component.

[0748]265. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media comprise:

[0749]at least one of the one or more physical media bearing a component
of the device-detectable data that was generated after the chamber was
withdrawn from the tissue of the organism.

[0750]266. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media comprise:

[0751]at least one of the one or more physical media bearing a result
component of the device-detectable data that was generated from raw
sensor data.

[0752]267. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media comprise:

[0753]at least one of the one or more physical media bearing a component
of the device-detectable data that was generated while the chamber
extended into the tissue of the organism.

[0754]268. The apparatus of clause 205, further comprising:

[0755]an extraction module containing the chamber, in which the treatment
commenced upon a portion of the tissue in the chamber and continued upon
the tissue component in the chamber.

[0756]269. The apparatus of clause 205, further comprising:

[0757]an extraction module containing the chamber, in which the chamber
contained a reagent to begin the treatment upon a portion of the tissue
entering the chamber.

[0758]270. The apparatus of clause 205, further comprising:

[0759]a laser microtome configured to extract the tissue component by
severing a portion of the tissue in the chamber from a remainder of the
tissue.

[0760]271. The apparatus of clause 205, further comprising:

[0761]an instrument configured to observe the tissue component in the
chamber and to transmit at least some of the device-detectable data on
the one or more physical media.

[0762]272. The apparatus of clause 205, further comprising:

[0763]an instrument configured to observe the tissue component in the
chamber and to store at least some of the device-detectable data on the
one or more physical media.

[0764]273. The apparatus of clause 205, further comprising:

[0765]an instrument configured to observe the tissue component in the
chamber and to present at least some of the device-detectable data on the
one or more physical media.

[0766]274. The apparatus of clause 205, further comprising:

[0767]an electron microscope configured to observe the tissue component in
the chamber and to provide at least some of the device-detectable data on
the one or more physical media.

[0768]275. The apparatus of clause 205, further comprising:

[0769]a fluorescence microscope configured to observe the tissue component
in the chamber and to provide at least some of the device-detectable data
on the one or more physical media.

[0770]276. The apparatus of clause 205, further comprising:

[0771]a confocal microscope configured to observe the tissue component in
the chamber and to provide at least some of the device-detectable data on
the one or more physical media.

[0772]277. The apparatus of clause 205, further comprising:

[0773]a spectrometer configured to observe the tissue component in the
chamber and to provide at least some of the device-detectable data on the
one or more physical media.

[0774]278. The apparatus of clause 205, further comprising:

[0775]an imaging system configured to observe the tissue component in the
chamber and to provide at least some of the device-detectable data on the
one or more physical media.

[0776]279. The apparatus of clause 205, further comprising:

[0777]a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system configured to observe
the tissue component in the chamber and to provide at least some of the
device-detectable data on the one or more physical media.

[0778]280. The apparatus of clause 205, further comprising:

[0779]circuitry for transmitting energy into the tissue component in the
chamber; and

[0780]circuitry for capturing an image of the tissue component.

[0781]281. The apparatus of clause 205, further comprising:

[0782]a surgical instrument with a handling control surface; and

[0783]an extraction module containing the chamber and supportable by and
separable from the surgical instrument.

[0784]282. The apparatus of clause 205, further comprising:

[0785]a handling control surface configured to permit a user to extend an
entirety of the chamber into the organism.

[0786]283. The apparatus of clause 205, further comprising:

[0787]at least one of the one or more physical media bearing a descriptor
of an instrument that contains the chamber.

[0788]284. The apparatus of clause 205, further comprising:

[0789]the device-detectable data indicating at least a therapeutic agent
used in the treatment of the tissue component.

[0790]285. The apparatus of clause 205, further comprising:

[0791]the device-detectable data indicating at least a therapeutic agent
administered to the tissue in vivo.

[0792]286. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media comprise:

[0793]a portable module including at least an auditory interface
configured to be operated while the portable module is held or worn.

[0794]287. The apparatus of clause 205 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0795]an image projection module.

[0796]288. The apparatus of clause 205 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0797]a touch screen.

[0798]289. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media include at least one of a repeater, a communication satellite, or
another active module configured to accept first and second portions of
the device-detectable data at first and second respective times.

[0799]290. The apparatus of clause 205 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0800]one or more processors configured to perform one or more of optical
image scanning or auditory pattern scanning upon the device-detectable
data.

[0801]291. The apparatus of clause 205 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0802]one or more processors configured to perform linguistic pattern
scanning upon the device-detectable data.

[0803]292. The apparatus of clause 205 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0804]circuitry for using an encryption constraint in at least some of the
device-detectable data.

[0805]293. The apparatus of clause 205 in which at least one of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0806]one or more signal-bearing media bearing at least one of a
special-purpose instruction sequence or an information-bearing static
attribute as a portion of the device-detectable data.

[0807]294. The apparatus of clause 205 in which a first portion of the one
or more physical media transmits a portion of the device-detectable data
before a remainder of the one or more physical media transmits a
remainder of the device-detectable data.

[0808]295. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media include at least one of an integrated circuit, a data-holding
element, a lens or other light-transmissive medium, a signal-bearing
conduit currently bearing at least a portion of the device-detectable
data, or a bus or other configuration of two or more transmission media
in mutual isolation.

[0809]296. The apparatus of clause 205 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0810]a power line operated for transmitting content of the
device-detectable data between at least two terminals.

[0811]297. The apparatus of clause 205 in which a first medium of the one
or more physical media bears a first portion of the device-detectable
data while a second medium of the one or more physical media bears a
second portion of the device-detectable data.

[0812]298. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media are configured at least (a) by causing a communication channel in
the one or more physical media to bear a first portion of the
device-detectable data; and (b) by causing another channel of the one or
more physical media to bear a second portion of the device-detectable
data.

[0813]299. The apparatus of clause 205 in which the one or more physical
media have borne the device-detectable data.

[0814]300. The apparatus of clause 205 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0815]one or more static markings indicative of the device-detectable
data.

[0816]301. The apparatus of clause 205 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0818]302. The apparatus of clause 205 further comprising at least one of
a satellite dish or other signal-reflective element, a transducer, an
antenna, or a receiver operated to receive the device-detectable data.

[0819]303. An apparatus comprising:

[0820]one or more physical media bearing a laser-scanned image of at least
some of a cell to which an optical enhancement material was applied in
vivo.

[0821]304. The apparatus of clause 303, further comprising:

[0822]a device having (at least) a handling control surface and a chamber,
the chamber configured to receive (at least) the cell to which (at least)
the optical enhancement material was applied (at least) in vivo.

[0823]305. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the laser-scanned image
comprises:

[0824]output from a device positioned with a handling control surface.

[0825]306. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the laser-scanned image
comprises:

[0826]a product of a noninvasive protocol.

[0827]307. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the laser-scanned image
comprises:

[0828]a product of a minimally invasive protocol.

[0829]308. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the laser-scanned image
comprises:

[0830]a product of a surgical protocol.

[0831]309. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the laser-scanned image
comprises:

[0832]a product of an agricultural protocol.

[0833]310. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the laser-scanned image
comprises:

[0834]image data depicting frozen tissue including the cell.

[0835]311. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0836]a signal from a surgical instrument that was positioned adjacent the
cell.

[0837]312. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0838]an image of the cell from an electron microscope.

[0839]313. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0840]some of the one or more physical media bearing a signal from a
biosensor.

[0841]314. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0842]a result of an in situ hybridization protocol performed upon the
cell.

[0843]315. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0844]a result of positioning at least a component of the cell in a
microfluidic structure.

[0845]316. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0846]some of the one or more physical media bearing a result of the
optical enhancement material including one or more antibodies.

[0847]317. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0848]a result of the optical enhancement material applied in vivo
indicating an absence of or a presence of a first attribute in the cell.

[0849]318. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0850]some of the one or more physical media bearing a signal received
from one or more chemical sensors.

[0851]319. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0852]a karyotype of an organism to which the optical enhancement material
was applied in vivo.

[0853]320. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0854]a data component relating to blood extracted from an organism to
which the optical enhancement material was applied in vivo.

[0855]321. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0856]a data component relating to fluid extracted from the organism to
which the optical enhancement material was applied in vivo.

[0857]322. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0858]an extraction protocol descriptor relating to the cell.

[0859]323. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0860]some of the one or more physical media bearing other data relating
to the cell.

[0861]324. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0862]one or more identifiers of a protocol by which the optical
enhancement material was applied to the cell in vivo.

[0863]325. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the laser-scanned image
comprises:

[0864]the laser-scanned image depicting the cell frozen.

[0865]326. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0866]one or more identifiers of the optical enhancement material to which
the cell was exposed in vivo.

[0867]327. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0868]one or more identifiers of a luminescent component of the optical
enhancement material.

[0869]328. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0870]a go/no-go indication relating to the cell.

[0871]329. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0872]a go/no-go indication suggesting whether or not tissue containing
the cell should be extracted.

[0873]330. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0874]another image of the cell generated after the laser-scanned image.

[0875]331. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0876]some of the one or more physical media indicating an extraction of
the cell from an organism.

[0877]332. The apparatus of clause 303, further comprising:

[0878]circuitry for causing the optical enhancement material to be applied
to the cell in vivo in response to contemporaneous user input.

[0879]333. The apparatus of clause 323, further comprising:

[0880]circuitry for causing at least some of the optical enhancement
material to be applied to the cell in vivo within five seconds after a
user's signal.

[0881]334. The apparatus of clause 303, further comprising:

[0882]circuitry for positioning a dispenser adjacent the cell in vivo.

[0883]335. The apparatus of clause 303, further comprising:

[0884]circuitry for processing device-detectable data obtained from one or
more biomarker detection protocols performed upon the cell.

[0885]336. The apparatus of clause 303, further comprising:

[0886]circuitry for processing device-detectable data obtained from one or
more protocols performed upon the cell in vivo.

[0887]337. The apparatus of clause 303, further comprising:

[0888]circuitry for processing device-detectable data obtained from one or
more laser scanning protocols performed upon the cell.

[0889]338. The apparatus of clause 303, further comprising:

[0890]one or more other physical media bearing an operational setting
value usable in laser scanning equipment for analyzing the cell.

[0891]339. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media comprises:

[0892]some of the one or more physical media bearing an operational
setting value usable for analyzing the cell.

[0893]340. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media comprises:

[0894]a conduit configured to bear a result of an irradiation in vivo of
the cell to which the optical enhancement material was applied in vivo.

[0895]341. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media comprises:

[0896]one or more conduits coupling imaging equipment with a module
configured to contain the cell to which the optical enhancement material
was applied in vivo.

[0897]342. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media comprises:

[0898]one or more conduits (at least) coupling imaging equipment with (at
least) an instrument (at least) configured to perform (at least) an
extraction of (at least) the cell to which (at least) the optical
enhancement material was applied (at least) in vivo.

[0899]343. The apparatus of clause 303 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0900]one or more quantifications derived from an optical field of the
cell.

[0901]344. The apparatus of clause 303 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0902]an attribute of a macromolecule relating to an organism to which the
optical enhancement material was applied in vivo.

[0903]345. The apparatus of clause 303 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0904]a shape-indicative category relating to a portion of the
laser-scanned image.

[0905]346. The apparatus of clause 303 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0906]a go/no-go indication of whether the cell apparently exhibits an
attribute of interest.

[0907]347. The apparatus of clause 303 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0908]a portion of the laser-scanned image indicating a luminescent
marking agent in the optical enhancement material.

[0909]348. The apparatus of clause 303 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0910]one or more size-descriptive quantities relating to the cell.

[0911]349. The apparatus of clause 303, further comprising:

[0912]an extraction module configured to contain the cell to which the
optical enhancement material was applied in vivo.

[0913]350. The apparatus of clause 303, further comprising:

[0914]one or more lenses configured to receive optical energy from a
region containing the cell; and

[0915]circuitry for transforming a portion of the optical energy into the
laser-scanned image.

[0916]351. The apparatus of clause 303, further comprising:

[0917]a dispenser of the optical enhancement material.

[0918]352. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media comprise:

[0919]a portable module including at least an auditory interface
configured to be operated while the portable module is held or worn.

[0920]353. The apparatus of clause 303 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0921]an image projection module.

[0922]354. The apparatus of clause 303 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0923]a touch screen.

[0924]355. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media include at least one of a repeater, a communication satellite, or
another active module configured to accept first and second portions of
the laser-scanned image at first and second respective times.

[0925]356. The apparatus of clause 303 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0926]one or more processors configured to perform optical image scanning
upon the laser-scanned image.

[0927]357. The apparatus of clause 303 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0928]one or more processors configured to perform optical character
recognition upon the laser-scanned image.

[0929]358. The apparatus of clause 303 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0930]circuitry for using an encryption constraint in at least some of the
laser-scanned image.

[0931]359. The apparatus of clause 303 in which at least one of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0932]one or more signal-bearing media bearing at least one of a
special-purpose instruction sequence or an information-bearing static
attribute.

[0933]360. The apparatus of clause 303 in which a first portion of the one
or more physical media transmits a portion of the laser-scanned image
before a remainder of the one or more physical media transmits a
remainder of the laser-scanned image.

[0934]361. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media include at least one of an integrated circuit, a data-holding
element, a lens or other light-transmissive medium, a signal-bearing
conduit currently bearing at least a portion of the laser-scanned image,
or a bus or other configuration of two or more transmission media in
mutual isolation.

[0935]362. The apparatus of clause 303 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0936]a power line operated for transmitting content of the laser-scanned
image between at least two terminals.

[0937]363. The apparatus of clause 303 in which a first medium of the one
or more physical media bears a first portion of the laser-scanned image
while a second medium of the one or more physical media bears a second
portion of the laser-scanned image.

[0938]364. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media are configured at least (a) by causing a communication channel in
the one or more physical media to bear a first portion of the
laser-scanned image; and (b) by causing another channel of the one or
more physical media to bear a second portion of the laser-scanned image.

[0939]365. The apparatus of clause 303 in which the one or more physical
media have borne the laser-scanned image.

[0940]366. The apparatus of clause 303 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0941]one or more static markings indicative of the laser-scanned image.

[0942]367. The apparatus of clause 303 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0944]368. The apparatus of clause 303 further comprising at least one of
a satellite dish or other signal-reflective element, a transducer, an
antenna, or a receiver operated to receive the laser-scanned image.

[0945]369. An apparatus comprising:

[0946]one or more physical media bearing (a) an earlier image depicting at
least some of a cell to which an optical enhancement material was applied
in vivo and (b) a later image depicting at least some of the cell to
which the optical enhancement material was applied in vivo.

[0947]370. The apparatus of clause 369 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0948]some of the one or more physical media bearing other data relating
to the cell.

[0949]371. The apparatus of clause 369 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0950]one or more identifiers (at least) of a protocol by which (at least)
the optical enhancement material was applied (at least) to the cell (at
least) in vivo.

[0951]372. The apparatus of clause 369 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0952]one or more identifiers of a protocol by which the cell was frozen.

[0953]373. The apparatus of clause 369 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0954]one or more identifiers of the optical enhancement material to which
the cell was exposed in vivo.

[0955]374. The apparatus of clause 369 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0956]one or more identifiers of a luminescent component of the optical
enhancement material.

[0957]375. The apparatus of clause 369 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0958]a go/no-go indication relating to the cell.

[0959]376. The apparatus of clause 369 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0961]377. The apparatus of clause 369 in which the earlier image
comprises:

[0962]a laser-scanned image of at least some of the cell to which the
optical enhancement material was applied in vivo.

[0963]378. The apparatus of clause 369 in which the later image comprises:

[0964]the later image depicting the cell frozen.

[0965]379. The apparatus of clause 369 in which the one or more physical
media further comprises:

[0966]some of the one or more physical media indicating an extraction of
the cell from an organism.

[0967]380. The apparatus of clause 369, further comprising:

[0968]circuitry for causing the optical enhancement material to be applied
to the cell in vivo in response to contemporaneous user input.

[0969]381. The apparatus of clause 380, further comprising:

[0970]circuitry for causing at least some of the optical enhancement
material to be applied to the cell in vivo within five seconds after a
user's signal.

[0971]382. The apparatus of clause 369, further comprising:

[0972]circuitry for positioning a dispenser adjacent the cell in vivo.

[0973]383. The apparatus of clause 369, further comprising:

[0974]circuitry for processing device-detectable data obtained from one or
more biomarker detection protocols performed upon the cell.

[0975]384. The apparatus of clause 369, further comprising:

[0976]circuitry for processing device-detectable data obtained from one or
more protocols performed upon the cell in vivo.

[0977]385. The apparatus of clause 369, further comprising:

[0978]circuitry for processing device-detectable data obtained from one or
more laser scanning protocols performed upon the cell.

[0979]386. The apparatus of clause 369, further comprising:

[0980]one or more other physical media bearing an operational setting
value usable in laser scanning equipment for analyzing the cell.

[0981]387. The apparatus of clause 369 in which the one or more physical
media comprises:

[0982]some of the one or more physical media bearing an operational
setting value usable for analyzing the cell.

[0983]388. The apparatus of clause 369 in which the one or more physical
media comprises:

[0984]a conduit configured to bear a result of an irradiation in vivo of
the cell to which the optical enhancement material was applied in vivo.

[0985]389. The apparatus of clause 369 in which the one or more physical
media comprises:

[0986]one or more conduits coupling imaging equipment with a module
configured to contain the cell to which the optical enhancement material
was applied in vivo.

[0987]390. The apparatus of clause 369 in which the one or more physical
media comprises:

[0988]one or more conduits coupling imaging equipment with an instrument
configured to perform an extraction of the cell to which the optical
enhancement material was applied in vivo.

[0989]391. The apparatus of clause 369 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0990]one or more quantifications derived from an optical field of the
cell.

[0991]392. The apparatus of clause 369 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0992]an attribute of a macromolecule relating to tissue to which the
optical enhancement material was applied in vivo.

[0993]393. The apparatus of clause 369 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0994]a shape-indicative category relating to a cell group containing the
cell.

[0995]394. The apparatus of clause 369 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0996]a go/no-go indication of whether the cell apparently exhibits an
attribute of interest.

[0997]395. The apparatus of clause 369 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[0998]an indication of a luminescent marking agent in the optical
enhancement material.

[0999]396. The apparatus of clause 369 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[1000]one or more size-descriptive quantities relating to the cell.

[1001]397. The apparatus of clause 369 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[1002]at least some device-detectable data indicating a luminescent
marking agent in a treatment of the cell.

[1003]398. The apparatus of clause 369 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[1004]at least some device-detectable data indicating a stain in a
treatment of the cell.

[1005]399. The apparatus of clause 369 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[1006]one or more size-descriptive quantities relating to the cell.

[1007]400. The apparatus of clause 369 in which the one or more physical
media comprise:

[1008]at least one of the one or more physical media bearing
device-detectable data that was generated while a treatment was applied
to the cell.

[1009]401. The apparatus of clause 369 in which the one or more physical
media comprise:

[1010]at least one of the one or more physical media bearing
device-detectable data that was generated after a chamber was withdrawn
from an organism to which the optical enhancement material was applied in
vivo.

[1011]402. The apparatus of clause 369 in which the one or more physical
media comprise:

[1012]at least one of the one or more physical media bearing a result that
was generated from raw sensor data.

[1013]403. The apparatus of clause 369 in which the one or more physical
media comprise:

[1014]at least one of the one or more physical media bearing
device-detectable data that was generated while a chamber extended into
an organism to which the optical enhancement material was applied in
vivo.

[1015]404. The apparatus of clause 369, further comprising:

[1016]an extraction module containing a chamber, in which a treatment
commenced upon a portion of an organism's tissue in the chamber and
continued upon the cell in the chamber.

[1017]405. The apparatus of clause 369, further comprising:

[1018]an extraction module containing a chamber, in which the chamber
contained a reagent to begin a treatment upon tissue entering the
chamber.

[1019]406. The apparatus of clause 369, further comprising:

[1020]a laser microtome configured to extract a portion of the cell by
severing a portion of tissue in a chamber from a remainder of the tissue
in the chamber.

[1021]407. The apparatus of clause 369, further comprising:

[1022]an instrument configured to observe the cell in a chamber and to
transmit at least some device-detectable data on the one or more physical
media.

[1023]408. The apparatus of clause 369, further comprising:

[1024]an instrument configured to observe the cell in a chamber and to
store at least some device-detectable data on the one or more physical
media.

[1025]409. The apparatus of clause 369, further comprising:

[1026]an instrument configured to observe the cell in a chamber and to
present at least some device-detectable data on the one or more physical
media.

[1027]410. The apparatus of clause 369, further comprising:

[1028]an electron microscope configured to observe the cell in a chamber
and to provide at least some device-detectable data on the one or more
physical media.

[1029]411. The apparatus of clause 369, further comprising:

[1030]a fluorescence microscope configured to observe the cell in a
chamber and to provide at least some device-detectable data on the one or
more physical media.

[1031]412. The apparatus of clause 369, further comprising:

[1032]a confocal microscope configured to observe the cell in a chamber
and to provide at least some device-detectable data on the one or more
physical media.

[1033]413. The apparatus of clause 369, further comprising:

[1034]a spectrometer configured to observe the cell in a chamber and to
provide at least some device-detectable data on the one or more physical
media.

[1035]414. The apparatus of clause 369, further comprising:

[1036]an imaging system configured to observe the cell in a chamber and to
provide at least some device-detectable data on the one or more physical
media.

[1037]415. The apparatus of clause 369, further comprising:

[1038]a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system configured to observe
the cell in a chamber and to provide at least some device-detectable data
on the one or more physical media.

[1039]416. The apparatus of clause 369, further comprising:

[1040]circuitry for transmitting energy into the cell in a chamber; and

[1041]circuitry for capturing an image of the cell.

[1042]417. The apparatus of clause 369, further comprising:

[1043]a surgical instrument with a handling control surface; and

[1044]an extraction module containing a chamber and supportable by and
separable from the surgical instrument.

[1045]418. The apparatus of clause 369, further comprising:

[1046]a handling control surface configured to permit a user to extend an
entirety of a chamber into an organism.

[1047]419. The apparatus of clause 369, further comprising:

[1048]at least one of the one or more physical media bearing a descriptor
of an instrument that contains at least one chamber configured to contain
at least the cell.

[1049]420. The apparatus of clause 369, further comprising:

[1050]at least some device-detectable data indicating a therapeutic agent
administered to an organism to which the optical enhancement material was
later applied in vivo.

[1053]422. The apparatus of clause 369 in which the one or more physical
media comprise:

[1054]a portable module including at least an auditory interface
configured to be operated while the portable module is held or worn.

[1055]423. The apparatus of clause 369 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[1056]an image projection module.

[1057]424. The apparatus of clause 369 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[1058]a touch screen.

[1059]425. The apparatus of clause 369 in which the one or more physical
media include at least one of a repeater, a communication satellite, or
another active module configured to accept first and second portions of
the earlier image at first and second respective times.

[1060]426. The apparatus of clause 369 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[1061]one or more processors configured to perform one or more of image
scanning or auditory pattern scanning upon device-detectable data
relating to an organism to which the optical enhancement material was
applied in vivo.

[1062]427. The apparatus of clause 369 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[1063]one or more processors configured to perform linguistic pattern
scanning upon device-detectable data relating to an organism to which the
optical enhancement material was applied in vivo.

[1064]428. The apparatus of clause 369 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[1065]circuitry for using an encryption constraint in at least some
device-detectable data.

[1066]429. The apparatus of clause 369 in which at least one of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[1067]one or more signal-bearing media bearing at least one of a
special-purpose instruction sequence or an information-bearing static
attribute as device-detectable data.

[1068]430. The apparatus of clause 369 in which a first portion of the one
or more physical media transmits a portion of the earlier image before a
remainder of the one or more physical media transmits a remainder of the
earlier image.

[1069]431. The apparatus of clause 369 in which the one or more physical
media include at least one of an integrated circuit, a data-holding
element, a lens or other light-transmissive medium, a signal-bearing
conduit currently bearing at least device-detectable data, or a bus or
other configuration of two or more transmission media in mutual
isolation.

[1070]432. The apparatus of clause 369 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[1071]a power line operated for transmitting content of the earlier image
between at least two terminals.

[1072]433. The apparatus of clause 369 in which a first medium of the one
or more physical media bears a first portion of the earlier image while a
second medium of the one or more physical media bears a second portion of
the earlier image.

[1073]434. The apparatus of clause 369 in which the one or more physical
media are configured at least (a) by causing a communication channel in
the one or more physical media to bear a first portion of the earlier
image; and (b) by causing another channel of the one or more physical
media to bear a second portion of the earlier image.

[1074]435. The apparatus of clause 369 in which the one or more physical
media have borne the earlier image.

[1075]436. The apparatus of clause 369 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[1076]one or more static markings indicative of an organism in which the
optical enhancement material was applied in vivo.

[1077]437. The apparatus of clause 369 in which a portion of the one or
more physical media comprises:

[1079]438. The apparatus of clause 369 further comprising at least one of
a satellite dish or other signal-reflective element, a transducer, an
antenna, or a receiver operated to receive the earlier image.

[1080]439. An apparatus comprising:

[1081]one or more physical media bearing a go/no-go indication relating to
tissue to which an optical enhancement material was applied in vivo.

[1082]Although selected combinations of the respective clauses are
indicated above, this is by way of illustration only, and all relevant
combinations of the clauses is also envisaged herein.

[1083]While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein,
other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the
art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for
purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the
true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

Patent applications by Dennis J. Rivet, Portsmouth, VA US

Patent applications by Eric C. Leuthardt, St. Louis, MO US

Patent applications by Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Bellevue, WA US

Patent applications by Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Livermore, CA US

Patent applications by Roderick A. Hyde, Redmond, WA US

Patent applications by Victoria Y.h. Wood, Livermore, CA US

Patent applications in class Detectable material placed in body

Patent applications in all subclasses Detectable material placed in body